Who We Are

The Church of God reformation movement began in 1881 with United States offices in Anderson, Indiana. It was founded as a movement emphasising the unity of God's people and holy living. Daniel S. Warner and his associates sought to move away from denominational hierarchies and formal creeds, trusting solely in the Holy Spirit as their overseer and the Bible as their statement of belief.

Their aim was not to establish another denomination but to promote primary allegiance to Jesus Christ — so as to transcend denominational loyalties. Warner became increasingly convinced that denominational divisions were contrary to the will of Christ and to the prayer of Jesus in John 17: "that they all may be one."

The movement is not historically related to Church of God bodies rooted in the Tennessee/Carolinas holiness revival of the late nineteenth century. It shares holiness commitments but does not emphasise speaking in tongues in the manner associated with Pentecostal churches.

Influenced by Wesleyan theology and Pietism, the Church of God's teachings include: the divine inspiration of Scripture; forgiveness of sin through Christ's atonement and repentance; the experience of holiness; the personal return of Christ; the kingdom of God as established here and now; the resurrection of the dead; and a final judgment with reward for the righteous and punishment for the wicked.

"The Church of God is not a denomination — it is the body of Christ, composed of all who have been born again. We stand on the simple truth that Jesus Christ is the head of the church, and our allegiance is to Him alone."

— Daniel S. Warner (1842–1895)

Baptism by immersion serves as a witness to the believer's regeneration. The Lord's Supper reminds participants of grace experienced. Foot washing acknowledges the servant ministry of all Christians. These ordinances are not considered mandatory conditions of Christian experience or fellowship — consistent with a conviction that unity is based on spiritual experience rather than creedal agreement.

There is no formal membership; individuals are assumed members on the basis of personal conversion and conduct that supports that conversion experience. Government is congregational; each local congregation is autonomous. Ministers meet in voluntary assemblies. In 1996–1997, a restructuring produced Church of God Ministries, Inc., with priorities identified by grassroots church representatives.

In 1891, the movement's first missionary was sent to Mexico. The Church of God has since grown into a multi-national community of faith. The largest church concentrations in the United States are in the Midwest, Pacific Coast, and western Pennsylvania, with an average weekend attendance of approximately 235,000 across the U.S. and Canada.

Today the movement counts about 2,300 congregations in the United States and Canada, with work in 90 countries worldwide, approximately 7,340 churches, and over 750,000 believers.

Rev. Noah S. Duncan disembarked in Barbados three times between 1906–09, having established a mission in Trinidad in 1906. During a stopover, he distributed literature and found great interest. The work was truly started by a Barbadian, Bro. Philip Scantlebury, who had lived in America and returned in 1912 to visit his ill mother. He gathered a small group in Mile-and-a-Quarter in St. Peter and started open-air services under a tamarind tree.

Missionaries Revs. J. Frank Shaw and George A. Coplin, who had gone to Trinidad, visited Barbados to further establish the work. They arrived on March 17, 1912. Scantlebury met them and took them to Mile-and-a-Quarter. That night they began a revival lasting two to three weeks. They rented a house near the Scantleburys and settled in.

Two months later, Coplin was recalled to Trinidad, leaving Shaw in sole charge. Having little experience, Shaw was "rather timid about having a church, whose membership had now reached 40, in his care." He started prayer meetings every morning at different homes and organised a singing class. Miss Maude Smith, who had stayed in Trinidad, came to Barbados to help.

In 1913, the group moved from Mile-and-a-Quarter to the Reef in Bridgetown, where a tent was erected. Bro. and Sis. Blewitt arrived on a visit from the U.S. — Bro. Blewitt later played an important role in purchasing a property as a missionary home. During his early ministry, Shaw learned to pray "Lord, give us this day our daily bread" — many mornings he awoke with nothing, but God answered through people bringing gifts of cassava, eggs, potatoes, chickens, and many other things.

Through decades of growth, challenge, and God's enduring faithfulness, the Church of God in Barbados grew to eighteen congregations serving communities in every parish.

"From the open-air meetings under a tamarind tree at Mile-and-a-Quarter to the eighteen congregations we have today, God has been faithful. This is His work, and we are privileged to be part of it."

— Reflecting on the Barbados story

Today, the General Assembly of the Church of God Barbados serves communities across every parish through worship, discipleship, outreach, and ministry. Our eighteen congregations — from Avis Town in St. Lucy to Silver Sands in Christ Church — are united in faith and committed to living out the love of Christ in their communities.

We remain committed to the same vision that inspired Daniel S. Warner in 1881 and that drove Rev. Noah S. Duncan and Bro. Philip Scantlebury to bring the gospel to Barbados: a church united in Christ, devoted to holy living, and passionate about sharing the good news with the world.