Congregational Studies Conference
Conference Chairman: Rev. John Semper
Conference Secretary: Rev. Peter Beale
A Congregational Studies Conference is held in March each year to learn from the history of Congregationalism.
Studies Conference 2008
The 2008 Congregational Studies Conference was held at Highbury Quadrant Congregational Church, London on Saturday 15th March. The speakers and subjects were::
Rev. Dr Arthur Fraser: Congregationalism and Spiritual Renewal
in the Scottish Highlands
This heart-warming story of evangelical heroism tells of the early Congregationalists of Scotland, men dedicated to the spread of the gospel through itinerant evangelism and the planting of churches. They laboured in the face of many adversities, such as arduous travelling conditions, unfavourable weather, gross ignorance among the people, hostility from landowners, and persecution from unsympathetic clergymen. It is a story of God raising up great preachers and opening the doors for the message of Christ in a very needy part of Scotland at a time of profound social, demographic and ecclesiastical change.
Arthur Fraser was until his retirement associate minister of Latimer Memorial Congregational Church, Beverley. Now in active retirement he lives near Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland.
Rev. Joseph Greenald: Conregational Independency 1689 - 1735:
Standing Firm in an Age of Decline
An enquiry into the reasons why most Congregational churches remained Trinitarian and Calvinistic whilst many Presbyterian and General Baptist churches declined into Arianism and subsequently Unitarianism.
Joseph Greenald, a former minister of Latimer Memorial Congregational Church, Beverley, is currently the preacher at Heaton Park Congregational Church, Manchester. He is married to Dorothy and they have five grown-up children. He has always maintained a keen interest in the history of Puritanism and Nonconformity.
Rev.John Semper: The Savoy Declaration of Faith and Order
On the 350th anniversary of its formulation, we ask the questions: Why was it produced at that particular time? How did it come into existence? Who was responsible for its production? Why has it not proved popular with Congregational churches?
John Semper was until his retirement pastor of Seacroft Congregational Church, Leeds. He now lives in active retirement in Galloway, south-west Scotland.
Conference Papers & Tapes/CDs
Copies of Conference Papers from 1981 - 2008 are available to purchase. Tapes/CDs dating from 1989 are also available. Please see the Publications Page for further details and how to order.
