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Colchester New Church is a
Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
New Church in Colchester, England which has as its theological basis the
Old Old or OLD may refer to: Places *Old, Baranya, Hungary *Old, Northamptonshire, England *Old Street station, a railway and tube station in London (station code OLD) *OLD, IATA code for Old Town Municipal Airport and Seaplane Base, Old Town, Mai ...
and
New Testament The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christ ...
s and the theological writings of
Emanuel Swedenborg Emanuel Swedenborg (, ; born Emanuel Swedberg; 29 March 1772) was a Swedish pluralistic-Christian theologian, scientist, philosopher and mystic. He became best known for his book on the afterlife, ''Heaven and Hell'' (1758). Swedenborg had ...
. Colchester New Church is part of the
General Church of the New Jerusalem The General Church of the New Jerusalem (also referred to as the ''General Church'' or just simply the '' New Church'') is an international church based in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, and based on the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the theo ...
.


History

Colchester Colchester ( ) is a city in Essex, in the East of England. It had a population of 122,000 in 2011. The demonym is Colcestrian. Colchester occupies the site of Camulodunum, the first major city in Roman Britain and its first capital. Colches ...
New Church began on 26 July 1816 when Rev.
Robert Hindmarsh Robert Hindmarsh (1759–1835) was an English printer and one of the original founders of Swedenborgianism. Life He was born at Alnwick, Northumberland, on 8 November 1759. His father, James Hindmarsh, was one of John Wesley's preachers, and wa ...
came to give a public lecture in
Colchester Colchester ( ) is a city in Essex, in the East of England. It had a population of 122,000 in 2011. The demonym is Colcestrian. Colchester occupies the site of Camulodunum, the first major city in Roman Britain and its first capital. Colches ...
. Shortly after this lecture a small group formed. They rented various rooms in town for their worship and discussions. In the minutes of the 46th General Conference in 1853,
Colchester Colchester ( ) is a city in Essex, in the East of England. It had a population of 122,000 in 2011. The demonym is Colcestrian. Colchester occupies the site of Camulodunum, the first major city in Roman Britain and its first capital. Colches ...
New Church is listed as having 11 members, and renting a chapel in St. Helen's Lane with U. W. Mattacks as the leader. After this point the history of the Colchester New Church is uncertain until 1880 when George McQueen found the Writings of
Swedenborg Emanuel Swedenborg (, ; born Emanuel Swedberg; 29 March 1772) was a Swedish pluralistic-Christian theologian, scientist, philosopher and mystic. He became best known for his book on the afterlife, ''Heaven and Hell'' (1758). Swedenborg had a ...
. In June 1880 Mr. McQueen read
Isaac Pitman Sir Isaac Pitman (4 January 1813 – 22 January 1897) was a teacher of the :English language who developed the most widely used system of shorthand, known now as Pitman shorthand. He first proposed this in ''Stenographic Soundhand'' in 183 ...
's ''Emanuel Swedenborg, the Spiritual Columbus,'' a little book which quoted from the
Swedenborg Emanuel Swedenborg (, ; born Emanuel Swedberg; 29 March 1772) was a Swedish pluralistic-Christian theologian, scientist, philosopher and mystic. He became best known for his book on the afterlife, ''Heaven and Hell'' (1758). Swedenborg had a ...
's Writings. On his 20th birthday, Sunday 12 September 1880, George McQueen walked the 10 miles to
Brightlingsea Brightlingsea is a coastal town and an electoral ward in the Tendring district of Essex, England. It is situated between Colchester and Clacton-on-Sea, at the mouth of the River Colne, on Brightlingsea Creek. At the 2011 Census, it had a popu ...
to attend the New Church service and with him walked "Eb" Finch. In 1881 Rev. J. Deans began a series of lectures in
Colchester Colchester ( ) is a city in Essex, in the East of England. It had a population of 122,000 in 2011. The demonym is Colcestrian. Colchester occupies the site of Camulodunum, the first major city in Roman Britain and its first capital. Colches ...
, and a group was formed. Their first official worship was conducted on April 16 of the same year, and in June they rented a room, Shaftsbury Hall. Mr. William Gill joined the society shortly after its formation and became one of its lay preachers. Two members of the society gave money to help finance a church building, but the building did not materialize for 42 years. In 1885 Rev. C. Griffiths became the pastor in
Brightlingsea Brightlingsea is a coastal town and an electoral ward in the Tendring district of Essex, England. It is situated between Colchester and Clacton-on-Sea, at the mouth of the River Colne, on Brightlingsea Creek. At the 2011 Census, it had a popu ...
, and Colchester appointed him as their honorary pastor. At this point the Colchester New Church was still a part of th
General Conference of the New Church
However, in 1885 the Colchester society began to read sermons from ''New Church Life'' for their Sunday worship. ''New Church Life'' is a periodical of the
General Church of the New Jerusalem The General Church of the New Jerusalem (also referred to as the ''General Church'' or just simply the '' New Church'') is an international church based in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, and based on the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the theo ...
. This might very well have been the beginning of the attraction to the distinctive ideas and principles of the General Church and its academy movement. In 1890 Rev. C. Griffiths withdrew from the Colchester society because he disagreed with the members' strong sympathies for the
General Church of the New Jerusalem The General Church of the New Jerusalem (also referred to as the ''General Church'' or just simply the '' New Church'') is an international church based in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, and based on the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the theo ...
. On 6 July Rev.
William Frederic Pendleton William Frederic Pendleton (March 25, 1845 – November 5, 1927) was the first Executive Bishop of the General Church of the New Jerusalem, in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania. Biography Born in Savannah, Georgia, Pendleton was the son of Major Phili ...
(of the General Church) gave a sermon that greatly pleased the members in Colchester. On the same day Mr. McQueen became a member of the General Church Academy. The next year in 1891, on 27 March, the Colchester New Church officially withdrew from the Conference to become part of the
General Church of the New Jerusalem The General Church of the New Jerusalem (also referred to as the ''General Church'' or just simply the '' New Church'') is an international church based in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, and based on the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the theo ...
. In 1905
William Frederic Pendleton William Frederic Pendleton (March 25, 1845 – November 5, 1927) was the first Executive Bishop of the General Church of the New Jerusalem, in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania. Biography Born in Savannah, Georgia, Pendleton was the son of Major Phili ...
(by now the bishop of the
General Church of the New Jerusalem The General Church of the New Jerusalem (also referred to as the ''General Church'' or just simply the '' New Church'') is an international church based in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, and based on the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the theo ...
) visited Colchester and discussed the possibility of opening a school, but it was decided that the time was not yet ripe for that. In 1924 the church building was erected on 175 Maldon Road and around the same time Rev. Gyllenhaal became pastor of the society. In 1926 a day school was started under Muriel Gill. In 1967 under the leadership of Rev. Frank Rose the church building was expanded."The Smallest School". ''Colchester Gazette''; July 9, 1968, p. 1. The sanctuary was extended two metres in length, a new school room, and a new entrance porch were added. The designer of the new additions was architect Geoff P. Dawson. The plan had been to dedicate the new school room on 10 December 1966 but building work only finished in mid-January 1967 and it was dedicated by bishop Willard Dandridge Pendleton on 15 April that year.


References

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External links


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Churches in Colchester (town) Swedenborgian churches General Church of the New Jerusalem Religious organizations established in 1816 Nontrinitarian denominations in the United Kingdom 1816 establishments in England