Daughters of Dissent

A Century of Women’s Ordination

On September 17th 1917, at the height of the First World War, Constance Todd was ordained to the congregational ministry at the then King’s Weigh House now the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile, in London. She was ordained alongside her fiancé, Claud Coltman, and they were married the following day. Congregational Churches are member denominations of the Free Churches Group (CF and URC). 

Constance Coltman had studied Theology at Mansfield College Oxford.

Many events and celebrations have been held during this year to commemorate Constance's ordination.

Earlier in the summer, at Mansfield College, for a special day of events and fellowship, members of the Free Church Education Committee, including Revd Joy Langford BA, worshipped and shared with Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws: Helena Kennedy QC, FRSA and Revd Dr Janet Wootton MA (who has served on the Free Churches Council).

(Pictured here - left to right - Baroness Kennedy, Revd Langford, Revd Wootton - photo by Revd Sara Iles). 

You can read more about Constance Coltman's compelling and radical ministry in service to God  HERE and by listening to the Sunday Sequence and to this Radio 4 programme on Woman's Hour. 

Imagining new possibilities

The Baptist Union of Great Britain, who are a member of the Free Churches Group, have just published their latest Baptists Together magazine - entitled 'Imagining new possibilities'.

It has a range of interesting Christian testimonies and articles - including a section on Life Transitions - linked to school life, going off to university in serving God in our older years.

You can find out more and download a copy HERE. 

Photo by Revd Sara Iles, Education Assistant, FCG 

"How should the Church change?"

The United Reformed Church (URC) magazine, Reform, has asked 95 opinion formers and opinion holders of today: How should the Church change?

This is part of the series marking the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The URC are a member of the Free Churches Group. 

You can read what those thinkers and teachers have to say on this question HERE. 

What would you say? Should the Church change? How should the Church change? 

Here are some of the views:

Loretta Minghella, CEO of Christian Aid
"Working across community and national boundaries, the Church must extend – and be seen to extend – the unceasing welcome at the heart of the Gospel to every person, each one made in the image of God, each known and loved and called by name."

And another, from the Rev Dr Graham Adams, tutor at Northern College, Manchester and minister in the Congregational Federation (a denomination who are represented by the FCG) - "A church shaken open – by the stories and questions it tends to close down; by childlike curiosity and playfulness it prefers to tame; by the gifts of strangers and surprises it holds at bay; by creation groaning and the suffering of the silenced; in solidarity with all who are being shaken open by God to the reality of the domination system and the alternative reality that beckons."

Photo taken by Revd Sara Iles at Holy Island Sept 2017 

500 years since the Protestant Reformation - learn more here!

Are you interested in learning more about the Protestant Reformation?

The Dr Williams' Library in Gordon Square, London has a unique and extensive range of books and documents which offer insights into the history and ministerial education of religious dissent in Britain. 

There are portraits of ministers and others, collections of letters and inspiring sermons, rare books and other interesting records. There is a portrait of the great writer, Isaac Watts, who wrote the hymn, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, inspired by a passage from scripture (Galatians 6:14). 

A summary of the aims of the Library Trust - "The purpose of the Trust is to assist in the provision of an educated Protestant Dissenting Ministry in the United Kingdom and to maintain and give support to Dr. Williams's Library. The Trustees look to develop the Library in ways which will enable it to make a significant contribution to the understanding of Protestant dissent."

To join the library, visit or to find out further information about the remarkable collection, contact the library. 

Painting is The Portrait of the Reformers - for further information about the subject, please see HERE. Image from collection at the Library. 

A crucial role for places of worship in the Prevent agenda

It’s not enough just to do the bare minimum, argues Sam Parrett, (OBE and CEO of London South East Colleges), who believes colleges have a true duty of care: Ms Parrett writing in the FE Week Journal on 3rd October 2017. 

Linking with your local college, as an active place of worship, may be a really useful and practical step that your church can take. This can help in supporting the students and the wider local community to have a greater understanding of faith groups and religion. 

Sam Parrett talks about how the colleges in her area work together to develop a cohesive and flexible plan of working with and engaging in the community. She writes: 

"Our student experience team holds debates throughout the year in which students have the opportunity to voice their opinions, thoughts and concerns on various issues, ranging from ‘Are you a global citizen?’ to human rights.

We also arrange visits to various places of worship for a number of faiths, and students have the opportunity to come back to college and discuss their experiences and any thoughts arising from the visits.

By widely and regularly promoting the right kinds of values, our aim is to minimise the wrong ones. Rather than focusing on explicit messages relating to radicalisation, we are working hard to promote a positive and supportive environment. We are ambitious about this spiritual and social aspect of college life and we have recently become a UNICEF rights-respecting organisation, which is also underpinning our approach."

To read the full article in the online FE Week Journal - see HERE.

To find out more about how to make this happen, please contact Sara Iles at the Free Churches Group: sara.iles@freechurches.org.uk 

(Photo by Sara Iles)