About Us

U.E.C Associate Minister – Carl Page

History

Great Wakering Evangelical Church is part of the Union of Evangelical Churches, which up to 1956 had been known as the Peculiar People. This denomination originated in Rochford in 1837 and in just a few years churches had been planted around Essex and London. Our church in Great Wakering was first established in 1845, and the current church building was built in 1891.

Over the years many ministers and elders have overseen the work and witness of our church. Currently we have a leadership team who oversee the work of the Church.

What we believe

Great Wakering Evangelical Church is a member of the Union of Evangelical Churches (UEC).  The following doctrinal standard is fundamental to the Christian faith. Great Wakering Evangelical Church and all other churches in the UEC are held to this standard.

The following has been paraphrased from the approved doctrinal standard in the Trust Deed:

a) The entire Holy Scriptures are accepted as our authority, having been inspired by Almighty God.

b) There is but one true and living God, self-existent, everywhere present, all powerful, having all knowledge, the eternal creator of all things.

c) There are three distinct but equally divine persons in the godhead: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

d) Original Sin:

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12)

e) General Redemption:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

f) Justification comes only by faith in the death and resurrection of Christ:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-24)

g) Regeneration and sanctification are by the Spirit of God alone:

“But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

h) The law is written on the hearts of believers and they are called to obey it:

“This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord.  I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” (Hebrews 10:16)

i) The duty of all true believers is to live and speak in a way that is appropriate for a Christian:

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” (Philippians 1:27)

j) The glorious Appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

“While we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13)

k) The Resurrection of the body:

“But our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

l) The future judgement:

“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement” (Hebrews 9:27)

m) The eternal happiness of the righteous and the everlasting punishment of those who die unforgiven:

“Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord’” (Revelation 14:13)

“If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15)

The following notes for items a) and c) are given:

a) In stating that the Bible is inspired, we are saying that both the Old and the New Testaments are neither more nor less than the actual words of God.  Further, we need the help of the Holy Spirit in order to correctly understand what they can teach us.

c) The Lord Jesus Christ, whilst being fully God, was equally fully man; we accept his virgin birth.  All that he said and taught is totally infallible.