Who We Are
Our Story
We are a group of churches situated mainly in the North of England with others in Bristol, the Midlands and Ramsey on the Isle of Man. Most of them bear the name “Independent Methodist”, but a few have local names, often related to their origins.
Each of our churches is self-governing, but they are grouped into local circuits to provide help and mutual support to one another. The churches together form the Independent Methodist Connexion, which acts as a spiritual and collective focal point. The Connexion has several departments, groups, officers and employees to facilitate the work of our churches by providing encouragement, motivation and resource provision/support wherever practical.
Our denomination is not large, which gives it a character quite different from much larger church bodies. This has the advantage of simplified administration, but the drawback of a limited national profile. Each year we hold an Annual Meeting where all the major decisions affecting the denomination are taken by representatives from the churches.
Our group of churches is represented on the appropriate committees of Churches Together in England, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, Free Churches’ Group and Women’s World Day of Prayer. It is also a member of the Evangelical Alliance.
What we believe
Statement of Faith.
The Independent Methodist Churches are Trinitarian, believing that God the Father is revealed through Jesus Christ his Son, who alone is Saviour of the world. The Holy Spirit makes God’s saving work real in the lives of his people. On acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, a person is born again and becomes a child of God by adoption. The full doctrines of the denomination are defined in our statement of faith under ten headings: The
Trinty – We believe in One Living and True God, Creator of all, eternal in three persons as Father, Son and Holy Spirit; him alone we worship and adore.
God the Father – We believe that God the Father Almighty, in holy love, gave his Son for the salvation of mankind.
God the Son – We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is God the Son. For our sake he became man, was truly human and truly divine, and lived a sinless human life. We believe that he reveals the Father, that he died to atone for our sins, rose from the dead, ascended to heaven and was exalted. He is our Advocate, Mediator and Lord. We believe that he will return personally in power and glory.
God the Holy Spirit – We believe that God the Holy Spirit convinces of sin, righteousness and judgement. He causes those who repent to be born anew and dwells within them, witnessing to their salvation and developing the fruit of a Godly life. He endows believers with gifts for the up-building of the Church. He glorifies Jesus.
Mankind – We believe that all people are sinful and are unable to deliver themselves from the guilt, penalty and power of their sin.
Salvation – We believe that salvation from the guilt, penalty and power of sin to eternal life is a free gift of God. Salvation is his purpose for all mankind and is only possible through personal faith in the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that all must stand before the final judgement of Christ and that those who have refused his salvation will be separated eternally from God. The
Bible – We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God and are the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
The Church – We believe that the Church is the whole company of the redeemed in heaven and on earth and consists of all who are united to God through faith in Christ. We believe that Jesus Christ is the head of the Church, which is his body. The purpose of the Church is to worship God, to promote the fellowship of his people, to preach the Gospel and to make disciples of all nations.
The Sacraments – We believe that the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s supper are to be practiced in obedience to the command of the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that in the observance of the Lord’s supper, Christ is certainly and really present, though not bodily in the elements. When used by believers with faith and prayer, the sacraments are, through the operation of the Holy Spirit, outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace.
The Christian Life – We believe in the priesthood of all believers, affirming that each believer has direct access to God through the Lord Jesus Christ. The individual believer is required to render obedience to Christ in every area of life, seeking always, under his direction, the advancement of his Kingdom.
Our Practices
The following are statements on how we are organised as a denomination.
Churches – Each Church is self-governing. Subject to the Church’s trust deed, the members meeting is the final authority in all matters affecting the Church.
Circuits – Groups of Churches are associated in Circuits for mutual benefit. The meetings of the Circuits are deliberative in character and recommendations can only be effective by the co-operation of each Church. The organisation of each Circuit is outlined in its rules.
Connexion – All member Churches constitute the Connexion of Independent Methodist Churches. The organisation of the Connexion is outlined in its constitution.
Ministries – Every believer is called to service in the Kingdom of God, there being no distinction between one believer and another beyond that of function. It is recognised that differing talents, spiritual gifts and ministries are bestowed on believers for the benefit of the church as a whole. Each church should, therefore, recognise and cultivate the talents, gifts and ministries of its members so that it may function as a ministering fellowship.
To assist in church leadership, pastoral responsibility and the ministry of the Word and sacraments, the Connexion commissions to its ministry those who have been called to ministerial appointment in one or more of the Connexion’s churches and who have met the qualifications laid down in the current statement on Ministry.
To assist in the wider ministry of the Word, the Connexion commissions and accredits preachers who have been nominated by their church and Circuit and who have met the appropriate qualifications laid down in the current Statement on Ministry.
The Connexion may, from time to time, provide training and accredit people to other specified ministries in the Connexion, such as Bible teachers, evangelists, missioners, missionaries and youth workers.
The Connexion makes no provision for the financial support of any personnel other than its central staff, evangelists and overseas missionaries.
Mission – The Connexion is concerned with the spread of the Gospel at home and overseas. Where required, Churches and Missions are assisted and new Churches or Missions may be formed, using Connexional resources of finance and personnel.
Early History
The Independent Methodist Connexion of Churches was not started by one individual on a specific occasion. A number of churches began in separate places, quite spontaneously, but with similar characteristics. Of these, the first was in Warrington, beginning in 1796. This church, along with others at Manchester, Stockport, Macclesfield, and Oldham, had their first known gathering together in 1806 at Manchester. Annual Meetings and exchange of preachers were the only tangible links between the churches for many years.
Of the leading figures in the early years, the most prominent was Peter Phillips of Warrington; he is generally regarded as the denomination’s founding father. By trade he was a chair-maker, but as an unpaid minister and preacher he travelled a wide area of the country and drew many churches into the Connexion during the first half of the nineteenth century.
Though some of the early churches used the title Independent Methodist, there were many other names: for example, Free Gospel Church, Christian Lay Church and Quaker Methodist. It was not until 1898 that the Annual Meeting finally chose the name Independent Methodist Connexion.
As the name suggests, the Independent Methodists owe much to the traditions of Wesleyan Methodism, from which many of the earliest churches broke away. In early days, there were strong links with the Primitive Methodists. Peter Phillips and Hugh Bourne, the founder of Primitive Methodism, were close associates and, at one time, it seemed possible that the two movements would develop into one. Many of the Independent Methodist Churches, which were formed in the latter half of the nineteenth century, came from Primitive Methodist roots. This is particularly so in the churches of North Staffordshire, County Durham and Bristol.
Quaker influence was also prevalent among some early Independent Methodists, notably in the Warrington area, with many adopting the Quaker plainness of speech and dress. Like the Quakers, Independent Methodists draw no distinction between clergy and laity, though they have designated ministers.
More detailed information on the Origins of Independent Methodism can be found in several books that have be written on the topic, or from the various archives that we hold at the Resource Centre.