Westminster Assembly Convenes

On July 1, 1643 the Westminster Assembly convened for the first time in the Henry VII Chapel of Westminster Abbey in London. According to Wikipedia the Assembly “was appointed by the Long Parliament to restructure the Church of England.” It consisted of 10 Lords, 20 Commoners, and 121 “Divines” of the Anglican Church. Some of these men were from the Puritan wing of the Church, who wanted to carry on the work of the Reformation in the Church and purify it from the remnants of Catholicism. The Assembly also called on the Scottish Presbyterians, who sent 6 representatives including George Gillespie, Robert Baillie, and Samuel Rutherford.

Though never able to agree on a form of church government, the Assembly produced some important and influential documents: the Longer and Shorter catechisms and the Westminster Confession of Faith. These documents have been accepted by many and adapted by others as standards for faith and practice. The Anglicans adopted these documents only after revisions, but “they formed the cornerstone of the Presbyterian Church and other reformed churches as they established themselves throughout Europe and America” (Wikipedia).

The work of the Westminster Divines represents men of different persuasions trying to hammer out a scriptural position during times of trouble. England was locked in civil war during the 1640s between Parliament and those loyal to King Charles I. War ended with the king being executed, his son Charles II exiled, and the monarchy abolished. The few years of relative peace and religious tolerance following saw many Puritan books produced, many of which are reprinted today. When Charles II and his supporters restored the monarchy in 1660, religious persecution was the order of the day; and men like Rutherford, Thomas Watson, and others were marked men. Their ministries were limited and difficult. Yet the work they did in the 1640s remained, and still does.

The catechisms and the Confession are in print today, along with expositions based on them. A good exposition of the Westminster Shorter Catechism is Thomas Watson’s A Body of Divinity published by Banner of Truth. Whether or not you read these documents, it’s likely that your statement of faith was at least influenced by them. Today is a good opportunity to be thankful to the Lord for using men in all ages to meticulously study and clearly express the great doctrines of the faith.

Westminster Assembly Convenes