The roots of the Southern Diocese lie in the early development of the Free Church of England, formally shaped by the 1863 Constitution, which made provision for separate dioceses under the pastoral oversight of bishops. This structure reflected the ancient pattern of church governance found across both Eastern and Western traditions, while also continuing the legacy of the Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion, from which the Free Church of England emerged.
One of the defining early moments came in September 1844, following a period of unrest known as the Surplice Riots. In response, a group of believers established a ‘Free Church’ in the Commercial Hall on Fore Street, Exeter, led by James Shore. Worship followed the Book of Common Prayer, with slight adaptations.
With the support of a local benefactor, a chapel was soon built. Christ Church, Exeter became not only the oldest surviving congregation of the Southern Diocese, but also of the Free Church of England itself.
This marked the beginning of a wider movement: groups of Christians, dissatisfied with developments in their parish churches and lacking recourse through episcopal structures, formed independent ‘free’ congregations. These were later united under the 1863 Constitution.
