Plymouth Brethren

The Plymouth Brethren is a Christian religious movement that began in Ireland and England in the late 1820s and made prominent by John Nelson Darby, Dr. Edward Cronin, John Bellett, and Francis Hutchinson who felt that the established Church had become too involved with the secular state and abandoned many of the basic truths of Christianity. As the movement spread, a large group of adherents assembled in Plymouth by 1831 which is why Brethren are often called by that name. The term Darbyites has also been used.

Related Topics:
Christian - Ireland - England - 1820s - John Nelson Darby - Dr. Edward Cronin - John Bellett - Francis Hutchinson - Plymouth - 1831

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In the late 1840s, a difference over the "independence" of local meetings resulted in the first division, causing a distinction to be made between the Open Brethren mainly referred to by the name Plymouth Brethren, and the Exclusive Brethren. Darby and his followers saw the split as the result of the growth of 'clericalism' and "grave error as to Christ's persona and sufferings".

Related Topics:
1840s - Open Brethren - Exclusive Brethren - Clericalism

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Open Brethren remain loosely affiliated and over the years have come to resemble Protestant evangelical churches in doctrine, except that there are no officially recognized clergy and the Lord's Supper is celebrated weekly - both of which are common to open and exclusive groups alike.

Related Topics:
Protestant - Evangelical - The Lord's Supper

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The Plymouth Brethren are unusual in refusing a denominational name; they do not generally refer to themselves as "Plymouth Brethren," nor do they regard themselves as a denomination, citing I Corinthians 3:4, where Paul scolds believers for dividing themselves into groups. Their preferred term for themselves is "the assemblies," and members are "saints," "believers," and (confusingly) just "Christians." Members are usually aware of the term "Plymouth Brethren," however; they use it in tax returns and may, when clarity requires, refer to their group as "those called by the world the Plymouth Brethren."

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