The Visible Church

One of the ideas early Congregationalists embraced was the "Visible Church"--the idea that each congregation ought to consist of a reasonable number of genuine participants. This view was a reaction to what was found in many of the parishes in England. These parishes were made up of everyone living in an area, regardless of their participation or commitment to the church.

The "Visible Church" is still important. Knowing and having fellowship with one another is a cornerstone of our "way," and an essential part of what it means, in Congregational parlance is to be a "true church."