The Free Church of England (FCE) – a ‘Reformed and Protestant’ body set up by disillusioned Anglicans in the mid-19th century – is facing turmoil amid calls for its Primus, John Fenwick, to quit.
A letter calling for him to step down has been signed by half of the UK’s active FCE clergy, including former Church of England ministers Peter Sanlon and Steven Hanna. It says decisions made by Bishop Fenwick are ‘endangering the peace and future flourishing’ of the denomination.
There are around 20 FCE congregations in England and 25 in South America, with a few in other countries also. In recent years a few evangelical ministers have left the Church of England to join the FCE, which has developed links with the conservative Anglican movement GAFCON.
