Morecambe's Emmanuel

Not very far from St Christopher’s Church of England on Morecambe’s seafront, is another church, which also claims to be Anglican. Built of red brick but still in a mock, gothic style, it is found overlooking the promenade while commanding fine views over the Bay. It is called Emmanuel Free Church of England. Its website declares its primary principles:

The Free Church of England

EPISCOPAL | EVANGELICAL | LITURGICAL

I am not terribly fond of episcopacy (rule by bishops), nor excessive liturgy (set, scripted worship), though I am perfectly happy for others to engage these if that central word is at their heart: evangelical, which is a love and commitment to scripture and the gospel. The current Church of England is largely apostate, with its clergy more exercised by climate change and gender pronouns than the gaping hell which yearns to swallow all who have sinned, and the bloodied cross which may yet save them. Any Anglican church which corrects this, regardless of how its clergy dress up or pray, is most welcome.

Sadly, there seems to have been a rather undignified dissension within the church which was shared publicly. It is not for me to pass further comment here, nor is it my business to find out what happened. Yet it does prove than even the clear structures of episcopal government and liturgical worship are little better at preventing squabbles than the reformed elderships and Pentecostal potentates with which some of us are more familiar.

I have prayed for Emmanuel.