Church of England (Continuing)

The Church of England (Continuing) is part of the Continuing Anglican Movement. Although the church was widely discussed in Anglican circles at the time of its founding in 1994, it has not achieved significant growth since that time.

Since 2008 the church has regularly exhibited at the Christian Resources Exhibition at Esher, Surrey and elsewhere in England.[1] It publishes a magazine called The Journal as well as other literature and books.[2] It holds an annual conference. The 2023 conference is due to be held at St Mary's Church, Castle Street, Reading.[3]

Origins and doctrine

The church was founded on 10 February 1994 at a meeting chaired by David Samuel at St Mary's, Castle Street, Reading, as a reaction against the use of contemporary-language liturgies (particularly the 1980 Alternative Service Book) and the recently approved ordination of women as priests.

The church assents to the unmodified Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion of the Church of England (constitution section 1), the 1662 Book of Common Prayer for liturgy, and to the historic three-fold ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons, ordained according to the Ordinal of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. Its doctrine is Calvinist, and it stands in the conservative evangelical protestant tradition.

The church maintains a conservative view on Christian leadership, and women are not permitted to teach at meetings or to exercise authority in the church (constitution section 3).[4]

Congregations

The Church of England (Continuing) has one church building, St Mary's in Reading, which was the church of its founding member, David Samuel. A second group meets in Wolverhampton, in the former Long Street synagogue (built 1903). Additionally, small groups meet in a rented hall in Wimbledon, and a community centre in Frinton-on-Sea.

These are the four congregations listed by the church as of 2020:[5]

  • St Mary's Church, Castle Street, Reading, Berkshire – minister, Edward J. Malcolm
  • St John's Church, Wimbledon, London – minister, Peter Ratcliff
  • St Silas' Church, Wolverhampton
  • Holy Trinity Church, Frinton-on-Sea – lay minister, Philip Lievesley

A fifth congregation, at Nuffield, has since closed.

Leadership

The church has had three presiding bishops since its foundation:

  • David Samuel, 1995–2001
  • Edward Malcolm, 2001–2013
  • Edward J Malcolm, 2013–present

The first bishop of the church was its founder, David Samuel, who is now retired. He consecrated as his successor Edward Malcolm, minister of St Silas' Wolverhampton, who died on 17 November 2013.[6] The current presiding bishop is Edward J. Malcolm, minister of St Mary's, Reading, who was also consecrated by David Samuel, one week after the death of Edward Malcolm in 2013.

The bishop, Edward J Malcolm, is currently one of only three active clergymen in the church, although there are several lay readers and preachers.

The church establishes its episcopal succession from Albion Knight (1924–2012), Archbishop of the United Episcopal Church of North America, who consecrated David Samuel on 11 June 1995. The closest link of episcopal succession with the Church of England is John Moore (Archbishop of Canterbury), who consecrated William White of Pennsylvania in 1787, and from whom Knight claimed his succession.

References
  1. "12-14 October 2021 - Sandown Park, Surrey" (PDF). Christian Resources Exhibition. 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-07-26. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  2. "The Journal of The Church of England (Continuing)" (PDF).
  3. "News". Church of England (Continuing). 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-09-15. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  4. "Constitution" (PDF). Association of the Continuing Church Trust. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-09-21. Retrieved 12 June 2020. Constitution, section 3
  5. "Congregations". Church of England (Continuing). Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  6. "Edward Malcolm (obituary)". English Churchman. 13 December 2013.
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