THE Archbishops of Canterbury and York have recognised the
orders of the Free Church of England, a Reformed Church formed in
1844. The Church was founded on the conviction that "only
those doctrines which are contained in scripture are necessary for
salvation", and that the Church must "constantly ensure that no
innovations in doctrine or worship obscure this fundamental
truth".
The recognition comes under the Overseas and Other Clergy
(Ministry and Ordination) Measure 1967, which gives the Archbishops
authority to determine whether the Orders of any Church are
"recognised and accepted" by the Church of England. It follows
three years of contact between the bishops of the Free Church of
England, and the C of E Council for Christian Unity and its Faith
and Order Commission, which recommended that the Orders of the Free
Church of England be recognised. That recommendation was
subsequently endorsed by the Standing Committee of the House of
Bishops.
The recognition means that, subject to a review of his
suitability and the need for further training, a priest from the
Free Church of England could be given permission to officiate in
the Church of England without ordination by Anglican bishops.
The Free Church of England is already a Designated Church under
the Ecumenical Relations Measure 1988. It has 18 churches and two
dioceses, and is governed by a constitution, which states that it
must "conform to the ancient laws and customs of the Church of
England".
In 2003, in response to its becoming "more outward-looking" - it
is a member of Churches Together in England - a number of
congregations left, and five more remain "institutionally separate
instruments". The Church argues that its ecumenical activities are
"an opportunity to witness to others who profess to be Christians
concerning the centrality of the cross and the supreme authority
and sufficiency of Scripture as the word of God".
The Church's website states: "In conformity with Scripture and
the historic Tradition of the Church, only men are admitted to
three traditional Orders and to the office of Lay Reader."