What if I told you that the Apostolic Church has roots stretching back to a Welsh revival? The Apostolic Church is an international Christian denomination. It is also a Pentecostal movement. This movement emerged from the Welsh Revival of 1904-1905. Although its movement began in the United Kingdom, the largest national Apostolic Church became the Apostolic Church Nigeria.
The term “Apostolic” refers to the role of apostles. They are in the denomination’s church government. This term also represents a desire to emulate 1st century Christianity. This emulation is in its faith, practices, and government. The earliest historians of the Apostolic Church trace its origins to 1911.
In 1911, three groups of people in Penygroes received the Pentecostal baptism. They received it in the Holy Spirit. The Apostolic Church adopted a system of presbyteries. This was to govern the church collegially. Ministers were ordained as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, elders, or teachers. All were involved in prayer. All were involved in deliberation in presbyteries. This happened at local, sectional, and national levels.
The names of these governing bodies became distinct. The presbytery of the local church retained the name “presbytery”. The regional body became known as the classis. Later, it was known as the Area Pastors’ Meeting. The national governing body adopted the name of General Council. Church government was not reserved to the apostles alone. They were regarded as first among equals. They required a collegial government.
For a period, the Welsh churches were associated with William Oliver Hutchinson. He was with the Apostolic Faith Church in Bournemouth, England. On January 8, 1916, Daniel Powell Williams and most of the Welsh assemblies separated. They separated from Hutchinson and the Apostolic Faith Church. They disagreed over doctrinal matters. They established the Apostolic Church in Wales (ACW).
After 1916, the two groups had no further contact. They developed along different doctrinal paths. Hutchinson claimed all authority as “Chief Apostle”. Williams and the Welsh churches could not accept this. They saw his claims to infallibility as contrary to the Protestant principle. They also felt it was against collegial church government.
In 1917, a second group formed. It was centered on Birmingham. It affiliated with the Apostolic Church in Wales. The following year, the Burning Bush Pentecostal Congregation in Glasgow cooperated with the Apostolic Church. In the same year, a group in Hereford using the name “Apostolic Church” also cooperated with the ACW. In 2016, the denomination celebrated its 100th anniversary. It had 15 million members in approximately 100 countries.
Ecclesiology has a prominent place in the theology. The Church is defined as the Body of Christ. Christ’s headship is given prominence. Christ expresses his headship through the ministries. These ministries include apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, elders, and teachers.
The theological beliefs of the Apostolic Church are in its confession of faith. This is known as the Tenets. The Tenets highlight core beliefs. These beliefs encompass the Trinity, human depravity, the divinity of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. They also include the importance of sacraments and the authority of Scripture. The Constitution of the Apostolic Church says that these Tenets shall forever be the doctrinal standard. They shall not be subject to change.
The Apostolic Church established its first theological college in 1933. It was in the village of Pen-y-groes. Colleges and seminaries have also been established in eleven other countries. In the past, the standard hymnal was the Redemption Hymnal. It was produced by a joint committee. The churches involved were the Apostolic Church, the Elim Pentecostal Church, and the Assemblies of God. They were from Great Britain and Ireland.
So, as you stand before the Apostolic Church today, remember its rich history. Think about its journey from the Welsh Revival to a global movement. It remains rooted in its foundational tenets and its commitment to spreading its faith.