The original forebear of the Church Society was the Protestant Association. The forebears of the society were established in the 19th century to oppose the introduction of Anglo-Catholic doctrine into the Church of England through bodies such as the Oxford Movement and The Church Union. 'Protestant Van' from a postcard dated March 1907 The Church Association, founded in 1865 by Richard P. Blakeney stated in its first annual report that the objectives of the Association were: As well as publishing information and holding public meetings, controversially, this also involved instigating legal action against Anglo-Catholics. According to the Association this was intended to clarify the law.. However, the ritualists refusal to comply with the courts' verdicts, coupled with the bishops' unwillingness to act, eventually led to such legal action not being pursued. In 1928 the National Church League, led by its treasurer William Joynson-Hicks, was successful in Parliament in resisting what were seen as attempted Anglo-Catholic doctrinal changes in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. The society have published theological literature since the 19th century, including the Church Association Tracts , and its journal, Churchman. Most of the society's 20th-century titles, including works by W. H. Griffith Thomas, were produced under its publishing arm, Church Book Room Press, and from 1976, Vine Books Ltd. In 1950 the Church Association and the National Church League merged to form Church Society. At the AGM in 2018 a new Council was elected to include leaders from Reform and the Fellowship of Word and Spirit, to work together to complete the agreed merger of the three organisations. The merged body continued to be known as Church Society.
Present day
According to its website, Church Society is a fellowship contending to reform and renew the Church of England in biblical faith. These objectives are accomplished through campaigning, networking, patronage, publishing, conferences and partnership with other organisations, as well as the administration of charitable trusts and properties. According to its memorandum of association the main objective of Church Society is: The society's interpretation of its declared objectives include controversial positions including opposing homosexuality and the ordination of women.
Campaigning
The society issues occasional press releases on its views which its website says seek to present 'a clear biblical perspective on issues affecting both the Church of England and the nation' The society has been active in opposing women's ordination as priests and consecration as bishops, which included in November 2012 setting up the campaign group Together 4ward. It has also taken a position against homosexuality which led to it opposing the appointment of the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and also the appointment of Jeffrey John as Dean of St Albans. In 2012 the society, in conjunction with other organisations, campaigned against Government plans to implement same-sex marriage legislation. The society has critiqued inter-denominational theological movements including theological liberalism and some aspects of the charismatic movement.
Patronage
Through its patronage body Church Society Trust the society is involved in the appointment of evangelical clergy in approximately 130 Anglican churches, including St John the Baptist, Hartford Cheshire, and :de:Christ Church |Christ Church, Düsseldorf
Publishing
The society today publishes its journal Churchman, edited by Peter Jensen; members' magazine Crossway;, and a number of books and booklets such as An English Prayer Book ; and a range of books on contemporary evangelial Anglicanism, such as Fight Valiantly. In 2010 the society established the Reformed Evangelical Anglican Library – a project to re-publish evangelical Anglican texts (including the sermons of George Whitefield, as well as producing a weekly podcast, and regular videos introducing the lectionary readings. Other audio-visual and downloadable resouces produced by Church Society are also on their website.
Administration
The society administers a number of charitable trusts and properties. The society holds an annual day conference, an annual residential conference, is a partner in the annual ReNew conference, and hosts the annual Junior Anglican Evangelical Conference. Church Society also runs an online training course for women, the Priscilla Programme in partnership with Union School of Theology, led by the Associate Director. The society is run by an elected council. the President of the society was Bishop Roderick Thomas, and the Director was Revd Lee Gatiss.After previously being located in central London, the society's headquarters moved to Dean Wace House, Watford, UK.
