| Polity: | Presbyterian |
| Leader Title1: | Clerk of Presbytery |
| Leader Name1: | Falko Drijfhout |
| Associations: | International Conference of Reformed Churches |
| Area: | England, Wales, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany |
| Founded Date: | 1996 |
| Congregations: | 23 |
| Publications: | The Presbyterian Network |
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, the denomination is small.
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[1] 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,[1] taking the name, Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales.[2]
Several EPCEW ministers[3] were instrumental in the 2020 founding of Westminster Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Gateshead, England.[4]
In 2000, two congregations in Cardiff, Immanuel and Bethel, were accepted into communion.[5] [6] The EPCEW has grown significantly since its founding with a number of congregations joining the EPCEW and others being planted by existing churches. The denomination is working to establish church plants in Oxford,[7] Lincoln,[8] Gloucester,[9] and Sunderland.[10] They are actively looking to plant churches throughout England and Wales.[11]
Denominational growth has been steady:
| Year | Number of congregations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 6 | [12] | |
| 2005 | 10 | [13] | |
| 2010 | 15 | Includes two congregations in Sweden.[14] | |
| 2015 | 17 | Includes one congregation in Sweden and one congregation in Germany.[15] | |
| 2020 | 23 | There are 20 established churches with a congregation in Sweden, a church plant in Switzerland, and another in Germany.[16] |
As of 2020, the denomination has twenty-three congregations and church plants at:[17]
| Congregation | Town or City | Minister | Website | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Saints Presbyterian Church | Rev Benjamin Wontrop[18] | https://allsaintspres.org.uk/ | |||
| Blackburn Evangelical Presbyterian Church | Blackburn[19] | Rev Norman Green[20] | |||
| Bury St Edmunds Presbyterian Church | Matthew Jolley[21] | http://www.bse-pc.org/ | |||
| Cambridge Presbyterian Church | Rev Douglas McCallum[22] | http://www.cambridgepres.org.uk/ | |||
| Chelmsford Presbyterian Church | Rev Darren Moore[23] | http://www.chelmsfordpres.org.uk/ | |||
| Durham Presbyterian Church | Rev Phil Baiden[24] | http://durhampresbyterian.church/ | |||
| East Hull Presbyterian Church | Vacant | http://www.ehpc.co.uk/ | |||
| Hexham Presbyterian Church | Vacant[25] | http://hexhampres.uk/ | |||
| Naunton Lane Evangelical Presbyterian Church | Leckhampton, Cheltenham | Rev Matt Faux[26] | http://www.cheltenhampres.org.uk/ | ||
| Oxford Presbyterian Church | Oxford (Northgate Hall) | Rev Andy Young[27] | https://www.oxfordpres.co.uk/ | ||
| Sheffield Presbyterian Church | Sheffield | Rev Dr Kevin Bidwell[28] | http://www.sheffieldpres.org.uk/ | ||
| Solihull Presbyterian Church | Rev Dr Stephen Dancer[29] | http://www.solihullpres.org.uk/ | |||
| Sunderland Evangelical Presbyterian Church | Rev Nathan Hilton[30] | http://www.sunderlandpres.org.uk/ | |||
| Whaddon Road Evangelical Presbyterian Church | Cheltenham | Rev David Pfeiffer,[31] Rev Larry Wilkes | http://www.whaddonevangelicalchurch.org/about-us/ | ||
| Lincoln Presbyterian Church | Lincoln | Rev Ben Thomas[32] | http://lincolnepc.org.uk/ | ||
| Gloucester Evangelical Presbyterian Church | Gloucester | Rev Michael Cochran,[33] Rev Tim Dalton[34] | https://www.gloucesterpres.co.uk/ |
| Congregation | Town or City | Minister | Website | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christ Presbyterian Church | Barry[35] | Rev Dr Drew Goodman[36] | http://www.christchurchbarry.org.uk/ | ||
| Bethel Presbyterian Church | Cardiff[37] | Rev Andrew Graham | http://www.bethelpcr.org.uk | ||
| Immanuel Presbyterian Church | Cardiff[38] | Rev Dr Peter Naylor | https://www.immanuel.org.uk/ | ||
| Ely Presbyterian Church | Ely, Cardiff[39] | Rev Philip Haines | https://www.epcreformed.org/ |
See also: Evangelical Reformed Church in Sweden.
The denomination publishes The Presbyterian Network in Spring and Autumn with theological and pastoral articles and news from its congregations.[43]
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,[44] and one of seven European Christian denominations who founded the European Conference of Reformed Churches.[45] The denomination has a co-operative agreement with the Presbyterian Church in America[46] and maintains relations with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Northern Ireland.[47]