The Free Church of Tonga (Siasi ʻo Tonga tauʻatāina) is a church

Local church

A local church is a Christian congregation of members and clergy.Local church may also refer to:* Local churches , a Christian group based on the teachings of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, and associated with the Living Stream Ministry publishing house.* Parish church, a local church united with...

 in Tonga

Tonga

Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...

.

The church was established in 1885 by King George Tupou I (formerly Taufa'ahau Tupou I) and Rev. Shirley W. Baker. Originally with the name The Wesleyan Free Church of Tonga (i.e., free from the Wesleyan Methodist Church), it became the official state church. (Queen Salote and King Tupou IV were both christened in the Free Church of Tonga.) Attempted re-unification in 1924 of the Wesleyan Mission and the Free Church by Her Royal Highness Queen Salote into the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga ended with a 'walkout' by the then-president of the Free Church of Tonga, J.B. Watkins (who had been president since it was established), and all his ministers from the emergency church conference that had been called by Queen Salote at the Royal chapels in the palace grounds in Nukuʻalofa

Nukuʻalofa

Nukualofa is the capital of the Kingdom of Tonga. It is located on the north coast of the island of Tongatapu, in the southern most island group of Tonga.-Mythological origins:...

, leaving all the then properties and assets to the Wesleyan Church.

Not long after another faction broke away who also did not agree with the Free Wesleyan Church and also claimed to be the true successor. They became the Church of Tonga

Church of Tonga

The Church of Tonga is one of the churches in Tonga. It is located in the capital Nukualofa.It was established in 1928 by those members who did not agree to the unification in 1924 of the Wesleyan mission and the Free church into the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, and they also did not agree with...

. In colloquial speech the former is known as the 'Church of the President,' while the latter is named the 'Church of the Lords.'

The Free Church of Tonga was first presided over by foreign reverends, until the presidency came into local hands; the Fonua family where it has stayed since.

The church operates three high schools, one each in Tongatapu, Haʻapai and Vavaʻu, all named Tailulu College.