A conservative holiness body which separated from the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1860 in an agitation over perfection, 'episcopal despotism' and free pews. The Canadian Holiness Movement Church, which began work in Ulster in the 1890s, united with the Free Methodists in 1957 and the new larger body extended the work inIreland with some success. However, a division in the 1970s led to half the churches forming the Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches (not connected with Independent Methodism). The Free Methodist Church in England (not to be confused with the former United Methodist Free Churches or with the Wesleyan Reform Union churches that use that title) originated with a loss of members and ministers in the North Lancashire District during the earlier Anglican-Methodist Conversations. Currently there are both Irish and British Conferences.

Entry written by: WP
Category: Denomination
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