Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales

Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales
PolityPresbyterian
Clerk of PresbyteryFalko Drijfhout
AssociationsInternational Conference of Reformed Churches
RegionEngland, Wales, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany
Origin1996
Congregations23
PublicationsThe Presbyterian Network
www.epcew.org.uk

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales (EPCEW) (Welsh: Eglwys Bresbyteraidd Efengylaidd yng Nghymru a Lloegr) is a reformed and conservative evangelical Presbyterian denomination based in England and Wales with churches in Germany, Switzerland, and Sweden. Founded in 1996, denominational growth has been steady but the denomination remains small with around 20 congregations.

History

In the second half of the twentieth century, the work of the Edinburgh-based Banner of Truth Trust resulted in a growing interest in England and Wales in Reformed, confessional and connectional Christianity.[1] In 1986, a Presbyterian conference was held in a Free Church of Scotland chapel in London, where a vision of a new Presbyterian denomination in England was proposed, which was to be faithful to Scripture and adhere to the Westminster Confession. As a consequence, the Presbyterian Association in England was formed in 1987[2] from several small Christian groups and existing congregations with efforts at church planting following. In 1991, an interim Presbytery was formed with congregations in Blackburn, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Durham and Hull to work towards the establishment of the new denomination. This came to fruition in 1996,[2] taking the name, Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales.[3]

In the following years, the denomination grew significantly with a number of congregations joining the EPCEW and others being planted by existing churches. In part, this was due to support from missionaries from the Presbyterian Church in America. In 2000, two congregations in Cardiff were accepted into the EPCEW.[4][5] By 2005, the denomination comprised nine congregations with six in England and three in Wales.[6] By 2010 the total had risen to 15 and, notably, this included two congregations in Sweden.[7] Five years later, the total number of congregations had risen to 17 and this included one congregation in Sweden and one in Germany.[8][9]

In 2016 the EPCEW expressed its desire to continue to plant churches[10] and Oxford Presbyterian Church was planted in 2018.[11] By 2020, there were 20 congregations in the denomination[12] while in 2021 a further two church plants were made, in Gloucester and Zurich.[13]

Several EPCEW ministers[14] were instrumental in the 2020 founding of Westminster Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Gateshead, England.[15]

In 2024, the congregations at Sheffield, Lincoln, Blackburn and Bury St Edmunds announced their intention to separate from EPCEW.[16][17] As of November 2025, these churches were no longer counted by EPCEW as belonging to the denomination with a consequential fall to 18 congregations in the denomination.[18]

Congregations

As of 2020, the denomination has twenty-three congregations and church plants at:[19]

England

Congregation Town or City Minister Website Image
All Saints Presbyterian Church Newcastle Upon Tyne Rev Benjamin Wontrop[20] [1]
Cambridge Presbyterian Church Cambridge Rev Douglas McCallum[21] [2]
Chelmsford Presbyterian Church Chelmsford Rev Darren Moore[22] [3]
Durham Presbyterian Church Durham Rev Phil Baiden[23] [4]
East Hull Presbyterian Church Hull Vacant [5]
Hexham Presbyterian Church Hexham Vacant[24] [6]
Naunton Lane Evangelical Presbyterian Church Leckhampton, Cheltenham Rev Matt Faux[25] [7]
Oxford Presbyterian Church Oxford (Northgate Hall) Rev Andy Young[26] [8]
Solihull Presbyterian Church Solihull Rev Dr Stephen Dancer[27] [9]
Sunderland Evangelical Presbyterian Church Sunderland Rev Nathan Hilton[28] [10]
Whaddon Road Evangelical Presbyterian Church Cheltenham Rev David Pfeiffer,[29] Rev Larry Wilkes [11]
Gloucester Evangelical Presbyterian Church Gloucester Rev Michael Cochran,[30]
Rev Tim Dalton[31] 		[12]

Wales

Congregation Town or City Minister Website Image
Christ Presbyterian Church Barry[32] Rev Dr Drew Goodman[33] [13]
Bethel Presbyterian Church Cardiff[34] Rev Andrew Graham [14]
Immanuel Presbyterian Church Cardiff[35] Rev Dr Peter Naylor [15]
Ely Presbyterian Church Ely, Cardiff[36] Rev Philip Haines [16]


Sweden

See also: Evangelical Reformed Church in Sweden

Germany

Switzerland


Number of congregations

Denominational growth has been steady as seen in the following table.

Year Number of congregations Notes
2000 6 Five congregations in England and one in Wales.[40]
2005 9 Six congregations in England and three in Wales.[41]
2010 15 Includes two congregations in Sweden.[42]
2015 17 Includes one congregation in Sweden and one congregation in Germany.[43]
2020 20 There are 20 established churches with a congregation in Sweden and another in Germany.[44]
2025 22 There are 22 established churches, including congregations in Sweden, in Germany and in Switzerland.[45]

Publications

The denomination publishes The Presbyterian Network in Spring and Autumn with theological and pastoral articles and news from its congregations.[46]

International organisations

Along with the Free Church of Scotland and the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing), the denomination is one of the three members of the International Conference of Reformed Churches from Great Britain,[47] and one of seven European Christian denominations who founded the European Conference of Reformed Churches.[48] The denomination has a co-operative agreement with the Presbyterian Church in America[49] and maintains relations with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Northern Ireland.[50]

See also

References

  1. ^ McGoldrick, James Edward (March 2012). Presbyterian and Reformed Churches: A Global History. Reformation Heritage Books. ISBN 9781601783493. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  2. ^ a b Bauswein, Jean-Jacques; Vischer, Lukas (1999). The Reformed Family Worldwide: A Survey of Reformed Churches, Theological Schools, and International Organizations. W.B. Eerdmans. p. 512. ISBN 978-0-8028-4496-5.
  3. ^ "About Us". Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales.
  4. ^ "Presbyterianism in England Today (Part 3)". Graham's Uncommon Place. 20 June 2010.
  5. ^ "There Are Presbyterians in England and They're Having a Conference". The Heidelblog. 25 September 2012.
  6. ^ "Congregations". epcew.org.uk. Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Archived from the original on 4 February 2005. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  7. ^ "Congregations". epcew.org.uk. Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  8. ^ "Congregations". epcew.org.uk. Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  9. ^ Franks, Ben (1 August 2015). "Berlin church plant". Evangelical Times. Gunnislake. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  10. ^ "EPCEW Statement on Church Planting" (PDF). epcew.org.uk.
  11. ^ "Oxford Presbyterian Church, About us". www.oxfordpres.co.uk. Oxford, UK. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  12. ^ "Congregations". epcew.org.uk. Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  13. ^ Laver, Nicola; Moore, Daren; Williams, Dave (1 September 2021). "Presbyterian and Congregational encouragements". Evangelicals Now. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  14. ^ "Faculty Members". Westminster Seminary.
  15. ^ "Our Story". Westminster Seminary.
  16. ^ Laver, Nicola (1 June 2024). "Presbyterian split queried". Evangelicals Now. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  17. ^ https://www.epcew.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Public-statement-v.2.pdf
  18. ^ "Congregations". epcew.org.uk. Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  19. ^ "EPCEW Congregations". Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales Website. Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  20. ^ "Revd Benjamin Wontrop | All Saints Presbyterian Church". All Saints' Presbyterian Church. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  21. ^ "People - About Us - Cambridge Presbyterian Church". www.cambridgepres.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  22. ^ "Chelmsford Presbyterian Church | EPCEW". Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  23. ^ "Durham Presbyterian Church | EPCEW". Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  24. ^ "From Bible Study to Church Plant in Northern England - Mission to the World".
  25. ^ "Leadership". Naunton Lane Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  26. ^ "Learn about the Oxford Plant". Gospel Reformation: UK. Archived from the original on 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  27. ^ "Solihull Presbyterian Church | EPCEW". Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  28. ^ "Sunderland Evangelical Presbyterian Church | EPCEW". Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  29. ^ "Cheltenham – Whaddon Road Evangelical Presbyterian Church | EPCEW". Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  30. ^ "GRUKology Episode 16: Interview with Michael Cochran - Church Planting in Gloucester". Gospel Reformation: UK. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  31. ^ "Presbyterian and Congregational encouragements". September 2021.
  32. ^ "Church information". www.affinity.org.uk.
  33. ^ "Home". christchurchbarry.org.uk.
  34. ^ "Bethel Presbyterian Church, Cardiff". www.bethelpcr.org.uk.
  35. ^ "Immanuel Presbyterian Church". www.immanuelcaerau.org.uk. Archived from the original on 4 June 2019.
  36. ^ "Ely Presbyterian Church (Cardiff)". www.epcew.org.uk/. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  37. ^ "Immanuelskyrkan, Tranås". www.immanuelskyrkan.info. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
  38. ^ "Home - Presbyterianische Kirche". Presbyterianische Kirche Berlin.
  39. ^ "Zürich Presbyterianische Gemeinde". Zürich Presbyterianische Gemeinde (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  40. ^ "Congregations". epcew.org.uk. Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Archived from the original on 4 December 2000. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  41. ^ "Congregations". epcew.org.uk. Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Archived from the original on 4 February 2005. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  42. ^ "Congregations". epcew.org.uk. Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  43. ^ "Congregations". epcew.org.uk. Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  44. ^ "Congregations". epcew.org.uk. Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  45. ^ "Congregations". epcew.org.uk. Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Archived from the original on 22 March 2025. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  46. ^ "Resources". Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales.
  47. ^ "Member Churches". International Conference of Reformed Churches. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  48. ^ "Member Churches". www.eucrc.org. European Conference of Reformed Churches.
  49. ^ "BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER" (PDF). epcew.org.uk. Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. p. 2.
  50. ^ McGoldrick, James E (March 2012). Presbyterian and Reformed Churches - A Global History. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Reformation Heritage Books. p. 170. ISBN 978-1-60178-349-3.
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