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The Free Church of England is an Anglican church which separated from the established Church of England in 1844. The church was founded by evangelical clergy in Devon in response to the Anglo-Catholicism of Henry Phillpotts, the Bishop of Exeter. It was initially supported by Edward Adolphus St Maur, 11th Duke of Somerset, who built the first church in Bridgetown.
In 1927, the Free Church of England entered into full communion with the Reformed Episcopal Church, which was founded by Anglican evangelicals in the United States.
As of January 2004, The Free Church of England had two dioceses in England, four congregations in New Zealand, and a church in Russia - The Church of Christ the Saviour, St. Petersburg.
Parishes in England are concentrated in the north and south, though there remain three active parishes in the West Midlands - Emmanuel Church, Birmingham; St. Jude, Walsall and St. Andrew, Bentley.
Under discussion at the moment is a document entitled 'Agenda for Renewal', by the Rt. Rev Dr. J. B. Shucksmith, (retd); which among other things envisages the possibility of a modern language liturgy to supplement the use of the Book of Common Prayer (revised). An Alternative Services Measure already exists, which provides for the occasional use of Authorised Alternative Liturgies with the approval of the Diocesan Bishop.
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