Are you seeking answers about God? The Oxford Christadelphian Church welcomes you. It hopes to help you find what you are looking for.
Oxford Christadelphian Church is a small friendly church in Oxford. It welcomes everyone to join its services. The services have a simple structure. They include prayers songs hymns Bible readings and a talk or discussion.
Notably the Oxford Christadelphian Church has no priests or paid ministers. Members organize their own services and activities. This leads to variety and individual interest.
The Christadelphians are a Christian community. Their beliefs are based wholly on the Bible. They avoid rituals and trappings. These can attach themselves to Christianity. They don’t have elaborate buildings or over-formal services. They try to stick to Bible basics.
Christadelphians believe in Jesus Christ. He is the Son of God. Jesus led a sinless life. God raised him from the dead. God exalted him to a place of honor. This is by God’s side. God has promised something to those who put their faith in Jesus. All those people will be raised from the dead. This will happen when Jesus returns to earth. He will rule over it in peace and righteousness. Christadelphians confidently wait for that day.
The name “Christadelphian” was first used in the mid-1800s. There have been Christadelphians in Oxford since the 1890s. They believe that others have shared their beliefs. This goes back to the days of the first-century apostles.
Christadelphians have met in Reading for over 120 years. They are a body of Christians. They try to base their beliefs and practices wholly on the Bible. They regard the Bible as God’s word. They try to rid themselves of ideas and rituals. These have attached themselves to Christianity. This has happened over the last 2000 years. They return to the beliefs and practices of the first-century apostles.
Christadelphians believe the Bible is the only true message from God. It was given entirely by Him. They believe there is only one God the Father. He created the world. He has a great purpose for it. The Holy Spirit is God’s own power. He uses it to carry out his purpose. Jesus is the Son of God. He is also the Son of mankind. His mother was Mary.
Jesus overcame temptation. Then he died to save his followers from sin and death. God raised Jesus from the dead. Then he ascended to heaven. He will return to earth again. When he returns Jesus will raise and judge the dead. He will give eternal life to the faithful. He will be King. He will reign over the earth from Jerusalem. His followers will help him. They will bring peace to the world forever.
The Christadelphians emerged as a denomination. This came about through John Thomas’s teaching. It also happened because a name was needed in the American Civil War. A passionate follower helped give the Christadelphians a lasting structure. His name was Robert Roberts. He began to publish The Ambassador of the Coming Age magazine. The name changed to The Christadelphian.
The Christadelphian position on conscientious objection became important. This happened when conscription came in during World War One. Varying degrees of exemption were granted to Christadelphians. This was in the United Kingdom Canada Australia New Zealand and the United States.
During the Second World War the Christadelphians in Britain assisted. They assisted in the Kindertransport. They helped relocate Jewish children away from Nazi persecution. They founded a hostel Elpis Lodge for that purpose.
After the Second World War moves were taken. These were to try to reunite earlier divisions. By the end of the 1950s most Christadelphians had united. Some small groups of Christadelphians remain separate.
The post-war period saw more co-operation. There was increased interaction between ecclesias. This resulted in week-long Bible schools. It led to national and international organizations. One is the Christadelphian Bible Mission. It provides preaching and pastoral support overseas.
The Christadelphian Support Network offers counseling. The Christadelphian Meal-A-Day Fund provides charity and humanitarian work. Now you know a little more about Oxford Christadelphian Church.