| H i s t o r y - Ecumenical Cooperation |
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Ecumenical Cooperation
John Wesley was an ordained priest within the Church of England and remained a member of this Church throughout his life, even though for most of it he was totally committed as the leading evangelist of the 'Methodist' doctrine. Indeed, the early members of the burgeoning Methodist Society, while working to establish their own Chapels and ordained Ministers in their areas, continued to attend many of the Services, and take Holy Communion, at their local Anglican churches. It is not surprising, therefore, that Methodists and Anglicans over the |
years have generally found themselves able to
co-operate whenever the need, or indeed an appropriate
opportunity, has arisen. This has been the case in Knutsford,
and continues to be so.
Following moves within both churches during the years immediately following the Second World War the fundamental question of 'Unity or Not' was broached and protractedly debated - the so-called 'Conversations'. This was clearly effective in focusing a heightened spirit of joint activity (and joint Services at particular times of the year, for example at Christmas and during Holy Week) but otherwise, for the |
time being at least, the two Churches
appear content to follow their independent paths of Christian
witness.
The Knutsford Methodists also have a history of interaction with the Free Churches in the town, often sharing Services and Preachers. One reads of the regular 'interchange of pulpits' which took place. Indeed, in the early 1920s there was serious discussion around the idea of actually uniting with the Free Churches. In the event, such an absolute step was not supported, although the principle of close co-operation continued to be strongly upheld.
The Methodist Society itself evolved in factions - for example,
the 'Wesleyan' and the 'Primitive' Methodists - and in the
years following the Great War (WWI) there were concerted |
efforts to achieve 'Methodist Union'.
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In 1925 the Knutsford Wesleyans voted against such a move and, although The 'Deed of Union' was
eventually established across the Church in 1932, it was not
until 1944 that the Knutsford Methodist Chapel became
officially registered under this arrangement.
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