England Nonconformists Congregationalists, Independents - International Institute

History and Beliefs
The Independents, sometimes called Separatists, had puritanical roots and were persecuted in the 16th and 17th centuries, because they sought to abolish bishops and archbishops in the Church of England. The Independent movement gained strength during the Civil War since Oliver Cromwell was a member. The first group was led by Richard Fitz in London in the mid-1500s, and the next was formed in Norwich in 1580 under Robert Browne, his followers being termed Brownists, but they are not regarded as the founders of the movement, there being none recognized. Independents were one of the originalThree Denominations of Nonconformists and were the forerunners of the Congregationalists.

They believed in the free association of Christians into congregations which picked their own minister and conducted themselves independently of the authority of any overseeing body. Theological beliefs differed between members and between congregations. Congregationalism gained a more defined theology during the 19th century but they were still independent of any formal association. The terms Independent and Congregational came to be synonymous in the 17th and 18th centuries, but a confusion arises as some Presbyterian churches were described as' 'Independent''with the meaning that they were independent of the Anglican church. ''

There were about 59,000 Congregationalists in 1700 and numbers declined during the 18th century. However, the Methodist revival in the late 18th century benefitted them and numbers rose again. There were about 1500 congregational chapels in England, and a further 500 in Wales, in 1850. It was popular with the Victorian middle class as it had many social activities as well as spiritual guidance. Disused chapels are put to many modern uses; The Congregational Chapel in Sherborne, Dorset is now an Antique Showroom and Auctioneers whilst its schoolroom houses the Somerset and Dorset Family History Society library.

Some voluntary County Unions began in 1792, firstly in Bedfordshire and the Congregational Union of England and Wales was formed in 1831, and its history has been written by Peel. A Union of Welsh Independents started in 1871. Two Missionary Societies (Colonial and London) were active overseas. Most Congregational Churches united with the remaining English Presbyterians in 1972 to form the United Reformed Church. Clifford (My Ancestors Were Congregationalists in England and Wales. How Can I Find out More about Them? Society of Genealogists, 1997) presents a more detailed, but not too lengthy, historical analysis.

The remainder are split between:


 * The Congregational Federation.


 * The Evangelical Federation of Congregational Churches.


 * Others, called Independent Congregational Churches which are not in any association.

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