| Free Church of England | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Classification | Christian |
| Orientation | Anglican |
| Scripture | Christian Bible |
| Theology | Low church Anglicanism |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Associations | |
| Full communion | Reformed Episcopal Church |
| Origin | 1844 |
| Separated from | Church of England |
| Congregations | 18 |
| Official website | fcofe |
The Free Church of England (FCE) is an Episcopal Church based in England. The church was founded when a number of congregations separated from the established Church of England in the middle of the 19th century.[1]
The doctrinal basis of the FCE, together with its Episcopal structures, organisation, worship, ministry and ethos are recognisably Anglican although it is not a member of the Anglican Communion. Its worship style follows that of the Book of Common Prayer or conservative modern-language forms that belong to the Anglican tradition.
The Church of England acknowledges the FCE as a church with valid orders and its canons permit a range of shared liturgical and ministerial activities.
- ^ Richard D. Fenwick, "The Free Church of England otherwise called the Reformed Episcopal Church c. 1845 to c. 1927", PhD thesis, University of Wales, 1995.