This week in Christian history: ‘Ben-Hur’ released, COGIC founder dies, Presbyterians in England

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Twitter

First English Presbyterian regional body launched – November 20, 1572

A nineteenth century painting of Presbyterian leader and Cambridge professor Thomas Cartwright (1535-1603).
A nineteenth century painting of Presbyterian leader and Cambridge professor Thomas Cartwright (1535-1603). | Wikimedia Commons

This week marks the anniversary of when the first Presbyterian regional body, known as a presbytery, was organized in England.

The Reverend Thomas Cartwright, a professor of Divinity in Cambridge University, oversaw its creation at Wandsworth near London. From there, it experienced rapid growth.

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“In due course of time Presbyterianism came to be quite powerfully organized in the vicinity of London, even in Elizabeth’s day, but it was rather as a church inside of the state church,” explained Presbyterian Church in America in a 2013 article.

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