Protestant Reformation Society - UK

The Protestant Reformation Society is a group of ministers and lay people who believe in the final authority of Holy Scripture. We are seeking to recall the Church of England to its Reformation heritage and to strengthen fellowship among all, of whatever denomination, who are wholly committed to the authority of Scripture and the great Reformation confessions.

Scripture: the Protestant Reformation Society is committed to the supreme and final authority of Holy Scripture as the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God.

There is only one great division in doctrine and theology - acceptance or rejection of this doctrine of Scripture: a general commitment to the historic creeds (excellent as they are) or co-belligerence against liberalism are not a true basis for unity of purpose and action.

Reformed doctrine: the Protestant Reformation Society seeks to strengthen fellowship with all who hold to Scripture and the great Reformation confessions. We have a unity of purpose with all who accept this doctrinal stand.

O pity, pity the Church of England. See how too, too many of her sons are fallen from her Articles, and preach themselves, not Christ Jesus the Lord.
George Whitefield, 1739 [Works, I, 93]

The Protestant Reformation Society seeks to set forth the great doctrines of Scripture, recovered at the Reformation; in particular we seek to recall the Church of England to the scriptural faith set down in the 39 Articles; furthermore, we seek to strengthen fellowship and understanding among all, of whatever denomination, who hold to the sole final authority of Scripture and who can subscribe ex animo to one of the great Reformation confessions.

Some particular contemporary emphases:

As there can be no unity of purpose without a unity of doctrine, there must be a test of ministerial orthodoxy, in the Church of England by ex animo assent to the Articles.

There must be separation from unfaithful teachers - there can be no encouragement of 'mutual flourishing'.

There is strength only in faithfulness, not in numbers: 'it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful'.

The Bible's teaching in the realm of sexual morality is clear: there are two sexes - 'male and female created he them'; marriage is, and is only, a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman.

Scripture teaches that men only may be ministers to the whole church; it does not allow for the ordination of women.

The Protestant Reformation Society seeks to effect our aims through our annual conference, through the literature we publish, and through occasional meetings.

• Christianity and Liberalism - Then and Now, March 2025

The Protestant Reformation Society was founded in 1827 to promote the religious principles of the Reformation. In the late 1960s it underwent a renaissance, as it sought to call the Church of England in general, and evangelicalism in particular, to doctrinal renewal (in distinction from various movements that were promoting inclusivism).

The Protestant Reformation Society annual conference, currently held in Oxford, first took place in 1977. These conferences have dealt with a wide range of contemporary issues and historical themes.