Coad's work traces the history of the Brethren Movement, which began more than 170 years ago and has since spread throughout the world. The author considers some of the outstanding characters produced by the movement, as well as its signficance in relation to the whole Christian church.

"Coad's work traces the history of the Brethren Movement, which began more than 170 years ago and has since spread throughout the world. The author considers some of the outstanding characters produced by the movement, as well as its signficance in relation to the whole Christian church." -- Blackwells.

The book offers the first scholarly treatment of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC), one of the largest denominations within the Brethren movement that originated with John Nelson Darby and a 19th-century revival in the British Isles. The book discusses the Brethren movement in general, the schisms, the beliefs and daily life of the PBCC, and the controversies surrounding its practice of strict separation from non-members of the Church.

What was it like to belong to a Brethren assembly? How and why did assemblies come into being? And what do they have to offer to the wider church today? This book traces the story of the Brethren movement in Britain and Ireland from its beginnings in the 1820s to the present day, with a primary focus on those gatherings known as Open Brethren.The overall aim is to provide a readable narrative of the movement’s development and distinctive ethos. The work explores where, when, how, and why assemblies grew and declined, and charts the development of a range of associated institutions. Distinctive ideas in Brethren theology and practice are also introduced. Illustrations bring the story to life and introduce the reader to some of the major figures in Brethren history, and the classified bibliography provides a starting-point for those wishing to takes things further.Throughout, developments among Brethren are related to the wider religious world, providing a background for consideration of what it means to belong to an assembly.