The Local Church: Developments in Congregational Studies

Abstract

Summary For many Christians the most familiar sacred space is their local church, and yet the relationships people have with this locus of identity are many and varied. However, one persistent feature relates to the communal nature of the congregation, i.e. the fact that the sacred space of the local church is shaped by a sense of collective identity and shared experience. This article addresses this observation via a consideration of literature emerging within the field of congregational studies. Drawing from existing research on churches in the UK and USA, various models for understanding the local congregation are described and set within a broad disciplinary framework. Attention is then paid to two particular volumes, both recently published, which signal the internal variety and vitality of the UK field of congregational studies.