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.
WHO ARE THE INDEPENDENT METHODISTS?
The Independent Methodist Connexion is a group of churches which are situated mainly in the North of England. Most of them bear the name ‘Independent Methodist’, but a few others have local names, often related to their origins. Each church is self-governing, but the Connexion acts as a spiritual and collective focal point. The fact that the denomination is a small one 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.
As you read through the following pages, you will find a description of the Connexion and its activities.
HOW DID THEY BEGIN?
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 the 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 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.