The Brethren

The Brethren movement grew out of a desire by some Christians in the early 19th century in Britain to return to what they believed to be a form of worship similar to that of the early church. They rejected a clergy or a church hierarchy. In their worship, they sought a freer form. Prompted by these, Christians in several British towns left the established churches to meet in small, independent groups,  and considered themselves as  non-denominational.

In the course of time, however, they were seen as another denomination by other Christians and the term Brethren was used to refer to them. The Brethren movement actually started in Dublin in 1830, but the formal congregation to be organized began in Plymouth in England; hence the name Plymouth Brethren.

The Bethesda Bristol Assembly was one of the early centers of the Brethren movement,  associated with people such as A. N. Groves, J. N. Darby, J. Parnell and G. Muller. From Bristol, early Brethren members went out on mission work.

Some of the distinctives of the Brethren are: fellowship of all belivers regardless of denomination, no clear division between clergy and  laity, on the basis of priesthood of all believers the service is unstructured and open (though woman's participation is restricted), autonomy of each assembly, and the leadership rests on, instead of a pastor, plurality of elders.  The Brethren also believe that the church exists not only for the administration  of the sacraments and the edification of believers, but also as a lively witness to the power of the gospel. These principles have characterized the Brethren churches in Malaysia, Singapore and elsewhere.