CHURCH UNITY

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27563, 21 January 1955, Page 11

CHURCH UNITY

New Moye Planned In Britain

LONDON, January 19. The Anglican and Presbyterian churches in Britain are to draw up an outline suggesting ways of attain- ? n 8 greater unity, it was announced in London today. Representatives of the four churches concerned, the Church of England, the Episcopal Church in Scotland, the Church of Scotland, and the Presbyterian Church in England-held two days of talks in Durham early this month for this purpose, it is stated. They proposed to prepare, within three years, an outline of ways of- attaining a fuller manifestation of catholicity. They hope to achieve this greater catholicity by modifying their traditions, but without disloyalty to essential nrinciples. They also expressed the hope that steps, will .soon be taken to secure unrestricted intercommunion between the churches concerned. The Church of England, “established” in England by law, has 2,294,000 “full members,” but they comprise only part of the people who regard themselves as Anglicans. The Church of England performs about half the marriages in England and has nearly 17.000 of the 40,000 churches and chapels registered for marriage ceremonies in England and Wales. It also baptises two-thirds t>f the children born in England.

The Episcopal Church in Scotland has 386 churches and mission stations. 241 parsonages, 326 clergy, and 54.382 communicants.