Congregational church

Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs.

Later mergers with other groups

Australia

In 1977, the Australian Congregationalists merged with the local Methodist and Presbyterian churches to form the Uniting Church in Australia.

Related Topics:
1977 - Australia - Uniting Church in Australia

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Canada

In 1925, the Congregationalists in Canada merged with Canadian Methodist and Presbyterian churches to form the United Church of Canada.

Related Topics:
1925 - Canada - Methodist - United Church of Canada

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In 1988, a newer Congregational Christian Churches in Canada was formed, containing a number of ex-United Church of Canada congregations, and independent "congregationalist" groups.

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United Kingdom

In 1972, many English Congregationalists merged with the Presbyterian Church of England to form the United Reformed Church, (URC). However many hundreds of Congregational churches have continued in their historic tradition. Under the relevant Act of Parliament that authorised the merger between what had become by then the Congregational Church of England and Wales and the Presbyterian Church of England, certain assets were divided between the various parties.

Related Topics:
1972 - Presbyterian - United Reformed Church

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In England there are three main groups of continuing Congregationalists. These are The Congregational Federation, which has offices in Nottingham, the Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches, and about 100 Congregational churches that are unaffiliated.

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In 1981, the URC merged with the Re-formed Churches of Christ and, in 2000, just over half of the churches in the Congregational Union of Scotland also joined the URC. The remainder of Congregational churches in Scotland joined the Congregational Federation.

Related Topics:
1981 - 2000

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Wales traditionally is the part of Europe which has the largest share of Congregationalists among the population, most Congregationalists being members of the Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymraeg (Union of Welsh Independents), which is particularly important in Carmarthenshire and Brecknockshire. Among its leaders up to the end of the 20th century was R Tudur Jones.

Related Topics:
Wales - Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymraeg - Carmarthenshire - Brecknockshire - R Tudur Jones

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The Congregational Federation, the Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymraeg, and the URC enjoy good relations and share certain aspects of church life together including their joint involvement in the Council for World Mission.

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United States

In 1957, the main body of Congregationalists in the U.S. (viz., the Congregational Christian Churches) merged with the Evangelical and Reformed Church to form the United Church of Christ.

Related Topics:
1957 - Evangelical and Reformed Church - United Church of Christ

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Some local churches did not follow the 1957 UCC merger and continue today as the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches or as members of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference.

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