Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland
Encyclopedia
The Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland derives its name and its liberal and tolerant identity from early 18th century Presbyterian ministers who refused to subscribe at their ordination to the Westminster Confession, a standard Reformed (Calvinist) statement of faith; and who formed, in 1725, the Presbytery of Antrim
. A similar phenomenon led to the creation of the Remonstrant Synod of Ulster in 1830. The two bodies created the Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland (NSPCI) in 1910. The Synod of Munster became part of the NSPCI in 1935.
Many Non-subscribing Presbyterians keep close contact with the Unitarians
and are sometimes identified as such, though they are distinct bodies.
Today, the denomination has thirty-one congregations in Northern Ireland
and two congregations in the Republic of Ireland
, with a total of about four thousand members. They are served by fewer than twenty ministers; both women and men serve as ministers. The NSCPI is a member of the Irish Council of Churches, the European Liberal Protestant Network
and the International Association for Religious Freedom
.
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
. A similar phenomenon led to the creation of the Remonstrant Synod of Ulster in 1830. The two bodies created the Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland (NSPCI) in 1910. The Synod of Munster became part of the NSPCI in 1935.
Many Non-subscribing Presbyterians keep close contact with the Unitarians
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
and are sometimes identified as such, though they are distinct bodies.
Today, the denomination has thirty-one congregations in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and two congregations in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, with a total of about four thousand members. They are served by fewer than twenty ministers; both women and men serve as ministers. The NSCPI is a member of the Irish Council of Churches, the European Liberal Protestant Network
European Liberal Protestant Network
The European Liberal Protestant Network is an association of free Christians and Liberal Protestants of Europe.It had its inaugural meeting at Bad Boll, Germany, July 1998 among Protestant members of the International Association for Religious Freedom....
and the International Association for Religious Freedom
International Association for Religious Freedom
The International Association for Religious Freedom is a charitable organization that works for religious freedom around the world. It was founded in Boston in 1900 and is the oldest international interfaith group....
.
Other Presbyterian denominations in Ireland
- Free Presbyterian Church of UlsterFree Presbyterian Church of UlsterThe Free Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian denomination founded by the Rev. Ian Paisley in 1951. Most of its members live in Northern Ireland...
- Presbyterian Church of Ireland
- Reformed Presbyterian Church of IrelandReformed Presbyterian Church of IrelandThe Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland is a Presbyterian denomination in Ireland.-History:The denomination's roots date back to the 17th-century Plantation of Ulster by Scots Presbyterian settlers...
- Evangelical Presbyterian ChurchEvangelical Presbyterian Church (Ireland)The Evangelical Presbyterian Church is denomination that is found in Northern Ireland. It broke away from Irish Presbyterian Church in 1927...