Free church

A free church is any Christian denomination that is intrinsically separate from government (as opposed to a state church).^[1] A free church neither defines government policy, nor accept church theology or policy definitions from the government. A free church also does not seek or receive government endorsements or funding to carry out its work. The term is only relevant in countries with established state churches. Notwithstanding that the description "free" has no inherent doctrinal or polity overtones. An individual belonging to a free church is known as a free churchperson or, historically, free churchman.^[2]

In Scandinavia, free churchpersons would include Protestant Christians who are not communicants of the majority national church, such as the Lutheran Church of Sweden.^[3]

In England, where the Church of England was the established church, other Protestant denominations such as Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Baptists, the Plymouth Brethren, Methodists and Quakers are, accordingly, free churches.^[1] In Scotland it might be used regarding any Protestant denomination, including the Free Church of Scotland, the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland etc, in distinction to the established Church of Scotland.

^ ^a ^b Armentrout, Don S. (1 January 2000). An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church: A User-Friendly Reference for Episcopalians. Church Publishing. p. 209. ISBN 978-0-89869-701-8. In England, the term has been applied to Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Methodists, Quakers, and Baptists. There has also been a Free church tradition in Scotland relative to the established Church of Scotland, which is Presbyterian; and in Sweden, Norway and Denmark relative to the established Lutheran churches in those countries.
^ The Swedish-American Historical Quarterly. The Society. 1986. p. 104. Waldenström was also impressed by the size and vitality of the city, but his eyes, as a temperance and free-churchman, were drawn even more to "the unbelievably large number of taverns..."
^ The Diamond Jubilee Story of the Evangelical Free Church of America. Free Church Publications. 1959. p. 46. The Swedish Methodist church began at this time and is also classified as a "free church."

[Armentrout2000-1] Armentrout, Don S. (1 January 2000). An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church: A User-Friendly Reference for Episcopalians. Church Publishing. p. 209. ISBN 978-0-89869-701-8. In England, the term has been applied to Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Methodists, Quakers, and Baptists. There has also been a Free church tradition in Scotland relative to the established Church of Scotland, which is Presbyterian; and in Sweden, Norway and Denmark relative to the established Lutheran churches in those countries.

[2] The Swedish-American Historical Quarterly. The Society. 1986. p. 104. Waldenström was also impressed by the size and vitality of the city, but his eyes, as a temperance and free-churchman, were drawn even more to "the unbelievably large number of taverns..."

[3] The Diamond Jubilee Story of the Evangelical Free Church of America. Free Church Publications. 1959. p. 46. The Swedish Methodist church began at this time and is also classified as a "free church."

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