The Free Evangelical Church was formed as a result of the split in the
Evangelical Church in New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands The Evangelical Church in New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands was formed in 1958, the denomination has announced its 50th anniversary in 2008. The London Missionary Society started missions work in the 18th century. At the turn of the 19th centur ...
. Its leader was Raymond Chaelemagne a missionary in the
Kanak people
The Kanak ( French spelling until 1984: Canaque) are the indigenous Melanesian inhabitants of New Caledonia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southwest Pacific. According to the 2019 census, the Kanak make up 41.2% of New Caledonia ...
. The
Paris Missions Society requested him to return to
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 kmĀ² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
, but numerous teachers and supporters requested him to stay. This created the split. Ministers are men only. It has 74 parishes and 2,000 members. Reconciliation with The Evangelical Church in New Caledonia began in 1992.
References
{{Reflist
Reformed denominations in Oceania