Frequently Asked Questions
 
1.  What is The Christian Israelite Church and where did it start?  See Church Background

The Christian Israelite Church developed from the Joanna Southcott tradition, although it was established as an independent Church.  Members share many common Christian beliefs, but also hold a hope that if they are alive at the return of Jesus Christ to this Earth, that they will not die physically, but receive everlasting life without death.
 
2.  Who started The Church?  See John Wroe

The founder was John Wroe, who founded The Church in 1822 at the age of 40 years.  He traveled around United Kingdom and all the world for a period of 40 years, passing away in Melbourne Australia in 1863.
 
3.  How did the Message of the Church spread?  See Preachers

The message of the Church was spread by preachers who were classified either as local preachers (who preached within a region - who worked and preached in their spare time), or traveling preachers (who were given a small monetary allowance, supplemented by books which they were entitled to sell, for their support).
 
4.  Where has the Church spread?  See Countries

Initially John Wroe traveled within the United Kingdom, but then undertook a journey to Gibraltar returning through Spain, Italy and France.  Later he made numerous journeys to Australia and North America.  When  traveling around The Cape of Good Hope he called into South Africa.  Preachers were initially sent from England to these places, and later Preachers within these countries spread out further, including some instances when they also traveled to further countries.
 
5.  What impact has the Church had on social history?  See People

In the area where the Church started, in Lancashire and Yorkshire, the Church had quite an impact at the time, with many well known locals becoming members.  In more recent times, particularly since the publication of the book "Millenarianism" by JFC Harrison in 1972, social historians are unveiling more and more about the impact of The Church within society over that period of history.  It is well recognised that in Australia The Church had quite an impact, with many of the early Traveling Preachers having been seen by those in outlying areas as their link to established religion. 
 
6.  What primary sources of information does the Church have?  .

The Volumes containing The Life and Journal of John Wroe contain entries made by the Writers who accompanied him on his journeys.  On many occasions these records were also witnessed by others.  These records were read by the members in ensuing years, and it would be expected that any gross errors would have been reported by those who had been present at each event, and appropriate changes made.  The Church has records of the signatures of those who joined the Church as members, records of Namings (more commonly called Christenings - but without infant baptism) records of circumcisions and records of Marriages within the Church, which commonly followed a Civil Marriage ceremony of members.
 
7.  What other sources of information are there?  See Related Information.

There has been a lot of articles written about the Church over the years.  Unfortunately whilst there have bee some complimentary reports, most of those which have survived have been based on folk-lore and myths of the time.  There are some reliable records, but many of the resource books used by later historians, have been based on reports which themselves have been labelled as speculative or fictional.
 
8.  Does The Church still exist today?  See www.cichurch.com

Yes - the Christian Israelite Church has been in continuous operation since 1822.  The Sydney Church (Australia) was built in 1853, and has been in continuous use ever since.  Services from Sydney Church are put live onto the Internet every second Sunday morning Eastern Australian time.  The current Melbourne Church was built in 1861.  The largest congregation is in Singleton, NSW Australia where there is a continuing Church Brass Band and Choir which presents frequent musical programmes to the broader community.  There are still individual members scattered in England, the USA and Australia.