What We Are
We are a ‘Free’, Independent Congregational Church.
The Origins of Congregationalism
Many Congregationalists contend that their denomination has its beginnings in the New Testament days. They claim that this group of people who gathered about our Lord were the first Congregational churches, seeing that they conformed to the Congregational ideal for the church, which is for them a company of people who acknowledge Christ as their head and associate together in worship, service and fellowship. Certainly our Congregational forefathers held firmly to the position that the Churches in Apostolic times were Congregational or Independent and that the form of church government was Congregational. It was not Presbyterian or Episcopal – the control of the churches was not in the hands of Bishops or Elders, but in the hands of the congregation themselves. To Congregationalists the principle ‘that Christ is their Lord, their Leader and Guide’ and that they have direct access to Him is fundamental to their churchmanship. With Him they need no control from without by either civil or ecclesiastical power; they are independent and able with divine guidance to settle all the details of their own worship, administration and government.
From The Archives of Congregationalism
Alan Green, Librarian, Congregational Library
That’s why we call ourselves the ‘Free Church’ – we are ‘Free’ of Denomination ties, free to worship The Lord as The Holy Spirit instructs us.
We are in Fellowship with both the Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches and the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches. We adhere to the Basis of Faith of both these bodies. We are therefore both continuing Congregationalists and Evangelicals, standing firmly on the Bible as the inspired and infallible Word of God.
We are an Evangelical Church
That means that we believe and teach the ‘Evangel’, or Gospel (Good News) revealed by God in His Word, The Bible. We believe that The Bible is God’s blueprint for life, and governs the message we proclaim, the way that we worship God and the way we live our lives. In other words, we try to hold to Biblical Christianity, with no ‘ifs’ or ‘buts’.
We are a Welcoming Church
We believe we are placed in the village to serve the community in Jesus name. Our services are open to all who would come, no matter from which church background or from none. We try to give a warm and friendly welcome with a family atmosphere for worship.
Vision Statement
The Vision Statement below was adopted by the Durrington Free Church in 1998 and gives a clear statement of the Churches position and aim.
It is the aim of Durrington Free Church to worship God, Father, Son and Spirit and to proclaim Salvation through Jesus Christ.
To encourage His people to develop a spiritual relationship through faithful Bible-based teaching, by prayer and warm fellowship; that we may be able to serve Jesus in our community.
To reach out to our neighbours with the message of Gods love, and in fellowship with others to support mission work throughout the world.