August 31, 2024
Dear friends,
Following a statement released this morning by The Free Church of England, claiming that worship has been deliberately disrupted at Emmanuel Church, the Central Trust have decided to suspend our services. As the Trustees of Emmanuel Church, Morecambe we refute these false allegations and are able to provide evidence to the contrary. We believe this is an attempt to silence and control us and to ultimately sell our beloved church.
We have been reluctant to share too much publicly regarding what our congregation has been enduring these last few weeks, for the sake of the reputation of our church and the wider FCE, however we now feel we cannot remain silent after this hostile action taken against our congregation.
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” -Eph 5:11-16
The last 3 Sundays have understandably been very difficult for our congregation.
The first Sunday 11th August was only the second day after hearing that our minister had been unfairly fired. For some members, they only found out that Sunday.
An FCE presbyter unknown to us showed up to take the service and he addressed the congregation before the service started. He was asked many questions by upset members of the congregation as would be expected and members told him that they wanted their minister back. He told us he had a statement to read out from the bishop, but the congregation said they didn’t want to hear it, and that the bishop should come and face us himself. It was a very difficult day for all involved and we thank and appreciate that presbyter for offering us pastoral care and love where none has been received since.
However we would like to be clear that the service then started and continued unhindered. Video is available of this.
On Sunday 18th August, +Fenwick took the service. There was an incident before the service started between the minister’s churchwarden and the bishop after which the police were notified.
The service itself started and continued unhindered.
The only interruption to the service was when the bishop skipped ‘the peace’ in our service booklets. Upon doing so, members of the congregation looked around at each other, and whispered, asking where the peace was. A member of the congregation called out to the bishop reminding him that he had skipped the peace. He did not acknowledge and ignored her. The congregation then all got up and shared the peace with each other. Video is attached of this and while we are all sharing the peace, the bishop can be seen continuing the rest of the service without us. After the peace, the congregation continued to worship as before.
There have been incidents with sharing the peace when the bishop and his wife have visited Emmanuel in the past with both the bishop and his wife refusing to shake hands with members of our congregation. We have witness statements which attest to this.
The only other disturbance to this service is that the bishop stopped all our music. Our organist conferred with the bishop before the service, stating he had selected the hymns and was told by the bishop that he did not want any music during the service. We have a witness statement to verify this. Some members of the congregation prayed and sang hymns before the service started instead. Video of this is available.
Last Sunday 25th August, +Fenwick arrived (with 2 others) to take the service. He was greeted at the door by the people’s churchwarden and a member of the church council. We had been informed that the bishop was being investigated following the previous weeks incident. (evidence available) It was the opinion of the wardens and church councillors that a person under investigation, for an alleged incident occurring at the church, to a member of the congregation should not be taking the service. This was a safeguarding concern. The night before, the wardens had contacted the denominational safeguarding officer for advice. He had told us that “My intention is not to suggest that the victim should be the one to leave the church. I believe that your safety, comfort, and well-being should be prioritised in this situation. Any decisions should be made with careful consideration of the impact on yourself. If that means restricting the accused from attending, then that’s a conversation that needs to happen with all parties involved.” (Screenshots available)
The people’s churchwarden therefore gently requested that the bishop reconsider taking the service that morning. He declined and abruptly pushed past our female church councillor to go into the church. Video available.
After everyone had arrived, approx. 5 minutes before the service was to begin, the people’s churchwarden made an announcement to the congregation gathered regarding what had occurred and stated that we would be holding a time of prayer in the café area instead for anyone who would like to join. He reiterated that while we do not have the authority to stop the bishop from taking the service, we leave it up to the bishop as to whether he respects the wishes of the church. The bishop then stated that he would be ignoring our wishes and continuing the service and invited people to attend, to which some members of the congregation stated ‘no’.
The bishop then decided he would cancel the service and he left the building. (Church warden’s statement and Video available)
After the bishop had left, the congregation (approx. 20 people) sat in the café area together and we were led in prayer by a member of our church council (a retired London City Missionary and former police and Fire service chaplain). We had open prayer, shared bible readings and sang hymns.
We believe the information given above of which we have evidence in writing and video, shows that there were no disturbances to worship, at least not by any of our members. We are a faithful, viable, healthy, Anglican congregation who just want to continue worshipping in our church. There is no justification for cancelling worship.
This morning, the church wardens received an email from the General Secretary of the Free Church of England, Dr Bob Stephen, informing them that the general council had gathered via zoom and that he was instructed to communicate 2 resolutions to them.
“The Free Church of England Central Trust Executive Council, meeting as Custodian Trustees, on the 29th August 2024 (via Zoom) expresses its concerns that the congregation at Emmanuel Free Church of England is no longer conducting public worship and in accordance with the Trust Deed itself in agreement with the Trust Deed and the objectives of the Charitable Trust. It therefore affirms the Rt Rev’d Dr John Fenwick as Chair of the Emmanuel Free Church of England, Morecambe Charitable Trust, number 1128244 and gives the opportunity to rectify this in the appointment of Trustees who will ensure that the Charity functions in accord with the Trust Deed an who are not in a position where there are conflicts with your personal interests or loyalty to any other person or body.”
And
“By order of the Executive Council of the Free Church of England Central Trust meeting as Custodian Trustees on the 29th August 2024 (via Zoom) notes that the conduct of worship is in breech of the Trust and is giving cause for significant reputational damage. It is our duty as Custodian Trustees to address this. All services and meetings are therefore suspended until the Wardens, Council and Members conform to the Trust Deed and the stated Objectives of the Charitable Trust.”
We note, that no one at the church either in the congregation, the church council members or the wardens were contacted to respond to these allegations. We were not contacted by the general council at all or involved in any process with making this decision. It seems the word of 1 man was taken as the truth without so much as reaching out to any others involved.
We have been informed by numerous people involved that before Emmanuel Church reopened last year, +Fenwick attempted to sell Emmanuel Church as a whole and also in pieces (the church hall), however the vote was thwarted by the Trustees at the time. It is our belief that it is his intention to sell the church again now.
We have been contacted by an Anglican GAFCON presbyter who for the time being wishes to remain anonymous, but has given permission for us to share his redacted witness statement.
This presbyter contacted +Fenwick after noticing that our minister’s details had been deleted from the FCE website. He had wanted to visit Emmanuel Church and was trying to get hold of Rev. Brett.
According to the statement, he was informed that Rev Brett was no longer associated with the FCE in any way. He asked what would happen to the congregation, to which the bishop replied ‘Huh’. The bishop then told him that he was the trustee of the church and that he intended to sell Emmanuel to raise funds for the northern diocese of the FCE. (Witness statement available which will be released in due course.)
The wardens, church council and entire congregation at Emmanuel church are extremely disappointed with the behaviour of our Diocesan Bishop, the general secretary and the Central Trust Executive Committee. Their hostile action against a peaceful congregation goes against the Christian biblical values that the Free Church of England was founded on. Emmanuel is a thriving Christian community in the Anglican tradition and our faithful parishioners do not deserve to be treated in this way. Tragically this is in keeping with how the bishop and denomination have turned on other godly congregations in the past.
In the strength of Christ, we will not be bullied and request your urgent prayers for our church family and for the repentance of those who have seen fit to ban our worship.
Thank you & God bless
