If you are dissatisfied with the spiritual traditions that you see among modern Christians . . .
If you seek an authentic spiritual tradition which still rings with the voice of the "WORD made flesh" . . .
If you seek a tradition which gives more than lip-service to the Biblical standards of social justice . . .
If you seek a tradition which is truly family-oriented, ecologically sound, and devoted to the quest of personal virtue . . .
If you seek a tradition which believes God still speaks to men and women in dreams, visions and other powerful experiences . . .
If you seek a tradition which accepts the spiritual gifts of the woman, not just as mother, but also as healer and prophetess . . .
If you seek one with a liturgy which can be practiced the same at home, as well as at the public meeting . . .
If you seek one which accepts our humanity, including our sexuality, not as a curse, but as a blessing in disguise . . .
If you seek one which consists of people and their faith, not one of property, hierarchy, and synods . . .
Then
consider the ancient witness of the Church of Cambria.
WHAT IS THE CAMBRIAN CHURCH?
Specifically, the Church of Cambria is the body of Christians descended from the from the aboriginal inhabitants of Wales and Britain, who were converted during the 1st Century A.D. Generally speaking, however, the Cambrian Church includes all people who adhere to this ancient form of Celtic Christianity, which was basically, in theology, a blend of Christian Druidism and the Apostolic tradition of St. John.
Several Apostles and Apostolic Fathers made an impact on the Church of Cambria. The ancient historians tell us that Joseph of Arimathea arrived with a company of Jewish disciples within a few years after our Lord's crucifixion. They founded Britain's Mother Church at Glastonbury.
St. Joseph was followed by the Apostle, Simon Zelotes, who was a Jewish patriot in opposition to the expansion of Roman power. He made his greatest contribution during the British resistance to the Roman invasion at the middle of the century.
The Apostle Paul made a brief missionary journey to Britain, following his first imprisonment in Rome. At that time, he also visited Spain and Gaul. Paul's greatest work, however, occurred during his time in Rome, when he ministered to British captives, which included the Silurian royal family.
Finally, the Apostle Peter influenced the Cambrian Church in the person of Aristobolus, whom he sent as a permanent, Apostolic missionary to establish the churches of Britain. St. Peter ordained Aristobolus, who was one of the Seventy, while he was still residing in Antioch.
It is traditionally believed that the Johannine influence came during the 2nd century through Irenaeus, the beloved bishop of Gaul. The following two centuries saw much cross-fertilization between the Celts of Gaul and Britain. That influence was reinforced by Pelagius in the fifth century, who returned to Britain, after sojourning in Palestine, to become the Abbot of Bangor in northern Wales.
Overcoming many centuries of persecution, the Church of Cambria has survived in the sometimes conservative, and yet at other times very liberal, expressions of Christianity. Like a perennial flower, it revives every time Celts apply their genetic predilections to the on-going discoveries of their ancient heritage. The Church of Cambria is not the story of an institution or of a self-perpetuating, spiritual oligarchy. Rather, it is the unfolding drama of a redeemed people and their offspring. In them we find testimony of God's abiding faithfulness to the "holy seed" of His Covenant People.
WHAT IS THE "FRIENDS" OF THE CAMBRIAN CHURCH IN DIASPORA?
The purpose of the Friends of the Cambrian Church in Diaspora is to assist in the founding and teaching of an authentic Christianity which existed among the Celts during the 1st and 2nd centuries, before the catholic Churches were taken over by two deadly heresies. The first was that of the Mahuzzims, who were monks which exalted celibacy over marriage and family life. They were the first to introduce various superstitions into Christianity which have continued to this day.
The second was the Cataphrygian heresy. It replaced the form of Church government from one of family elders to one of a self-perpetuating oligarchy of super-spiritual people, who eventually mimicked the imperial government of Rome. All of the subsequent corruptions of Christianity have been made possible by these early heresies. The Celtic tribes of the British Isles held out against these two heresies for a thousand years. The Highlanders of Wales and Scotland never surrendered, even to the time of the Reformation.
The Church of Cambria does not view Protestantism as a sufficient expression of the Christian faith. A "Biblical" Christianity given to subjectivist interpretation by the individual has produced doctrinal anarchy. Most Fundamentalists are completely oblivious to the fact that their Bibles are heavily abridged editions. A substantial number of Sacred Writings circulated in the Early Church and are sometimes quoted as authoritative in the Canon itself, but are absent in our modern Bibles. They are also ignorant of the writings and traditions of the Apostolic Fathers. Lacking their interpretive discipline, Protestants fall prey to innovations and heresies which pass as sound doctrine and are amazingly institutionalized to be perpetuated through many generations.
The old churches which claim Apostolic succession are no better. For these churches, in spite of their professed conservativism, have innovated the most and have used their Apostolic cloaks to justify burying the Word of God under a mountain of human tradition. Celtic Christianity provides an authentic alternative.
HOW DO I JOIN?
You do not "join" the Church of Cambria like you do modern churches. Modern churches are sectarian and are based upon the whims of human choice. The Church of Cambria is ethnic. Like all ethnic churches, you are "enrolled" into it when you are born - in this case, with an aboriginal Welsh lineage. Of course, the Cambrian Church is just one branch of a great world body of Christians. Only a sovereign God can write your name on the Roll of Heaven. However, in terms of the visible manifestation of God's Kingdom and because of the ancient Welsh covenants, we teach that children of aboriginal Welsh descent, born to Christian parents, are already under the protection and discipline of God's Covenant of Grace and are recognized by us as catechumens. The value of the Welsh lineage is that it contains the only identifiable and uncorrupted line of the Grail Church (see menu) in the world today. If you are of Celtic descent and desire to be a part of this Tradition, request a letter of recognition from us.
If you are not of this heritage and desire to be, you need to be adopted into a kinship group. This is a mentoring process called "fosterage" and may last as long as six years.
There are many books and other literature available for purchase which will explain most aspects of our Tradition. We are delighted to help you in word or pen. To minister Christ's love and grace to all of God's creatures is our calling. The Celtic Church has always been a great missionary church. Its concern is for people, not institutions.
To learn more about our on-going activities and publications, contact the address below: