Church of England and Methodist Church Covenant turns 21

The Church of England and the Methodist Church in Britain recommit to working together as Covenant turns 21

Anglicans and Methodists in England will be underlining our commitment to forging closer ties as we mark the 21st anniversary of an historic covenant between our two churches.

The Anglican-Methodist Covenant was signed by leaders of the Church of England and the Methodist Church in Great Britain in front of Queen Elizabeth II on 1 November, 2003, with services of celebration at both Methodist Central Hall and its immediate neighbour Westminster Abbey.

The Covenant recognises how much the two churches - which separated in the 1790s, after the death of John Wesley - have in common and commits them to removing further obstacles towards unity.

It has opened the way to new partnerships on the ground between local Church of England and Methodist congregations, ranging from joint worship and sharing church buildings to shared community projects and staff such as youth and family workers.

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Justin Welby and Stephen Cottrell, will join the President of the Methodist Conference the Revd Helen Cameron and the Vice-President, Carolyn Godfrey to reaffirm the two churches’ commitment to the Covenant at a service of celebration at Methodist Central Hall followed by evensong at Westminster Abbey on Monday November 4.

A special joint national online service will be posted on Friday November 1, with representatives of both churches leading worship and sharing their experiences of life in covenant.

And congregations across the country are being encouraged to mark the anniversary during their regular services this Sunday. Prayers have been developed by both churches for use in marking the anniversary.

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Justin Welby and Stephen Cottrell, said: “The Covenant was both a reflection of the great degree of friendship and agreement in faith and life which the Church of England and the Methodist Church of Great Britain share, and a commitment that we should work ever more closely together in the years to come.

“Our differences, in the great scheme of things, are minor: what we share in common is the great joy of the cross and resurrection of Christ, and his call to bear witness to the love of God for all humanity.

“This anniversary is a day of celebration. But it is also a challenge to us all to do more, to raise our gaze to that horizon of unity in love and fellowship to which we are all called. May Christ guide us as we rise to that challenge.”

The Revd Helen Cameron, President of the Methodist Conference, and Carolyn Godfrey, Vice-President, said: “It is good to reaffirm the covenant that was signed 21 years ago, and to celebrate the work and worship that happens between the Church of England and the Methodist Church locally and nationally.

“We welcome all that focuses on what unites us in Christ, and we pray that we can continue to build on what we learn from each other. As we celebrate this milestone, we look forward in hope to journeying together in the future.”

The Revd Ruth Gee, the Methodist co-chair of the Life in Covenant Group, commented, “The signing of the Covenant in 2003 was an historic moment marking a significant development in the relationship between the two churches and was a response to the call of Jesus that we should be one.

“Since then we have been able to work more closely together in ministry and in mission. Nationally and, in many places locally, we have been enriched by working together.

“We are discovering that the things we share are more than those on which we differ, and as we share with one another we grow closer to Christ together. There is much to celebrate as we look back on our journey together so far and look forward in hope, as friends with one another, in and through Christ.”

The national online service will be available at 9am on 1 Nov here.

Prayer resources developed by the two churches are available here.