Gathering to His Name

Book excerpt: What was it like to belong to a Brethren assembly? How and why did assemblies come into being? And what do they have to offer to the wider church today? This book traces the story of the Brethren movement in Britain and Ireland from its beginnings in the 1820s to the present day, with a primary focus on those gatherings known as Open Brethren.The overall aim is to provide a readable narrative of the movement’s development and distinctive ethos. The work explores where, when, how, and why assemblies grew and declined, and charts the development of a range of associated institutions. Distinctive ideas in Brethren theology and practice are also introduced. Illustrations bring the story to life and introduce the reader to some of the major figures in Brethren history, and the classified bibliography provides a starting-point for those wishing to takes things further.Throughout, developments among Brethren are related to the wider religious world, providing a background for consideration of what it means to belong to an assembly.