Cardiff: gospel healing brings old splits to an end

It is with great joy that Ely Presbyterian Church, Cardiff has joined EPCEW (the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of England and Wales).

Of course, such events are always encouraging; it is encouraging that a couple of churches are looking into joining EPCEW. But church history tends to be punctuated by splits and division. Especially Presbyterian churches. In fact, this has been Ely’s history and so this event was a cause of celebration.

Ely left the Presbyterian Church of Wales in 1968, around the time others did, as Liberalism took a stronger hold. Over the next few years, Ely started a school and in 1990 planted another church, Bethel Presbyterian. Elders from Ely (and Bethel) were heavily involved in discussions in the early days of the PAE (Presbyterian Association of England) the precursor to EPCEW. However, in the Ely church, disagreements on the Eldership led to a division which eventually caused a split in the congregation. The group that left became Immanuel Presbyterian, Cardiff. Bethel and Immanuel both joined the new EPCEW and Ely remained independent, inevitably with some scarring.

Over the last few years Ely has made stronger connections with wider evangelicalism, particularly through their minister, the Revd Phil Haines, and his involvement in Greystone and Pastor’s Academy among other things. Much healing across the Cardiff Churches has happened in the time. So the welcome service was a wonderful testimony to the gospel at work. Representatives attended from the other three Welsh EPCEW churches: Immanuel, Bethel and Christ Church Barry (joined 2012), as well as from further afield. The four Welsh EPCEW churches are not geographically far apart, although their estates are distinct, and they work closely together, particularly for outreach and young people’s work.