MEETING AGAIN - THE DISSENTING DEPUTIES 2023 at Free Church House 16th May, 6pm

This is a warm invitation to members of your church to join us here at Tavistock Square on 16th May 2023 at 6pm, when our distinguished speaker will be Sir Les Ebdon CBE, Chairman of the Governors of Spurgeon’s College and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire and former Director of Fair Access to Higher Education.

He will speak on “The Importance of being a Free Church today”, exploring the relevance of the principles our forebears held dear, especially the freedoms they fought to obtain and their continuing importance. It should be an evening of exceptional interest.

The “Dissenting Deputies” were established as elected lay people, working with the body of Ministers, in 1732 to fight for the removal of restrictions which excluded the churches and people we now call in the “Free Church” tradition from many areas of public life. We maintain this annual society to honour their work. Free speech can never be taken for granted. The body also keeps alive our historic right of direct approach to the Monarch. Today, the Free Churches Group carries out the Deputies’ functions relating to government, as we will hear during our very brief formal proceedings.

It would be really helpful to know, in advance, something of the numbers attending. Please return the attached form by post or email. Respecting our historical structure, it would be appropriate formally to nominate two “Deputies”, but all are welcome. Please display the poster. Our income is limited, and a contribution would be very welcome to help cover our meeting costs.

We know that Sir Les will give us a stimulating evening. Do come.

Yours faithfully,

Paul Rochester Keith Salway

An invitation letter is available to download here.

A poster is available to download here.

The Dissenter form is available to download here.

THE DISSENTING DEPUTIES ANNUAL MEETING IS BACK – PLEASE COME

Dating back to 1732 as one of our first, if not the first, civil rights societies, the annual meeting of the Dissenting Deputies has a long pedigree in the history of what we now call the Free Churches. Its role as a guardian of free speech and association is now assumed by the Free Churches Group and now we are an annual association..

So it is special that we are now able to meet again for our annual lecture – 6 pm Wednesday 27th October 2021 at Free Church House 27 Tavistock Square London WC1H 9HH.

We are very fortunate to have a distinguished speaker _ the Rev Dr Robert Pope, Vice Principal of Westminster College, Cambridge and he has a theme for our time:

“The greatest Terror of Mankind” – Contagion, the Church and the Providence of God

Sabina Williams sent the attached letter to our church contacts some weeks ago. We very much want you to come. But so we can get the room prepared, and to soothe our organising nerves, we also need an RSVP response before then if possible please.

Please email Sabina to confirm – sabina.williams@freechurches.org.uk or call at 0203 651 8334.

Many thanks,

Paul Rochester & Keith Salway

A WARM INVITATION TO OUR 2019 MEETING OF THE DEPUTIES

Dear Friends,

A WARM INVITATION TO OUR 2019 MEETING OF THE DEPUTIES

We very much hope that you will join us at 6pm at 27 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HH on Monday 14th October when we are delighted that the Rev. Dr Jennifer Smith, Minister of Wesley’s Chapel, will speak on the intriguing title of “Wife Beating, Worship and Public Conscience – C17th Providence Plantations and Today”

The “Deputies” were established as elected lay people, working with a body of Ministers, in 1732 to fight for the removal of restrictions which excluded the churches and people we now call in the “Free Church” tradition from many areas of public life. London based, they argued on behalf of churches across the country.

We maintain this somewhat quaint sounding body as an annual society to honour their memory and successful work. Free speech should never be taken for granted, enabling us to sustain our life, worship and witness. The body also keeps alive our historic right of direct approach to the Monarch.

Today, the Free Churches Group carries out the Deputies’ functions relating to government, as we will hear during our very brief formal proceedings.

This is an open invitation to your members and Minister. It would be most helpful to know in advance of the numbers attending. Please return the attached form by post or email. Respecting our historical structure, it would be appropriate to nominate two “Deputies”, but all are welcome. Please display the poster. Our income is limited, and a contribution would be very welcome to help cover our meeting costs.

We know that Jennifer will have a great deal of interest to say and we hope very much that you will come.

For more information and RSVP, please contact Sabina Williams at sabina.williams@freechurches.org.uk / 02036518334.

Paul Rochester and Keith Salway

General Secretary and Treasurer

A WARM INVITATION TO OUR 2018 MEETING OF THE DEPUTIES

Dear Friends,

We hope that you will join us at 6.00 pm at 27 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HH on Thursday 8th November when we are delighted that the Rev. Joel Edwards, former leader of the Evangelical Alliance and now a Commissioner of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, will speak on “Martin Luther King Jr. - Disobeying with Civility”. You may have seen Rev Edwards as he preached at the recent “Windrush” service in Westminster Abbey.

The “Deputies” were established as elected lay people, working with a body of Ministers, in 1732 to fight for the removal of restrictions which excluded the churches and people we now call in the “Free Church” tradition from many areas of public life. London based, they argued on behalf of churches across the country. We maintain this somewhat quaint sounding Body as an annual society to honour their achievement. Free speech should never be taken for granted since it enables us to sustain our life, worship and witness. The Body also keeps alive our historic right of direct approach to the Monarch.

Today, the Free Churches Group carries out the Deputies’ functions relating to government, as we will hear during our very brief formal proceedings.

This is an open invitation to your members and Minister. It would be most helpful to know in advance of the numbers attending. Please return the registration form by post or email. Respecting our historical structure, it would be appropriate to nominate two “Deputies”, but all are welcome. Please display the poster. Our income is limited, and a small contribution would help to cover our meeting costs.

We know that Joel Edwards will have a great deal that will be of interest to say and we hope very much you will come to hear him.

Yours faithfully,

Paul Rochester Keith Salway

Please download here for invitation letter, registration form and poster.

Daughters of Dissent

A Century of Women’s Ordination

On September 17th 1917, at the height of the First World War, Constance Todd was ordained to the congregational ministry at the then King’s Weigh House now the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile, in London. She was ordained alongside her fiancé, Claud Coltman, and they were married the following day. Congregational Churches are member denominations of the Free Churches Group (CF and URC). 

Constance Coltman had studied Theology at Mansfield College Oxford.

Many events and celebrations have been held during this year to commemorate Constance's ordination.

Earlier in the summer, at Mansfield College, for a special day of events and fellowship, members of the Free Church Education Committee, including Revd Joy Langford BA, worshipped and shared with Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws: Helena Kennedy QC, FRSA and Revd Dr Janet Wootton MA (who has served on the Free Churches Council).

(Pictured here - left to right - Baroness Kennedy, Revd Langford, Revd Wootton - photo by Revd Sara Iles). 

You can read more about Constance Coltman's compelling and radical ministry in service to God  HERE and by listening to the Sunday Sequence and to this Radio 4 programme on Woman's Hour.