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The movement began in Great Britain in the early 1800's (Plymouth, England being one of the first and largest centers of the work) as a withdrawal from the denominational structures and man-made traditions that dominated Christendom. Despite their beginnings as a somewhat despised little flock, the "brethren" quickly made an indelible mark upon evangelical Christianity. Many of the themes commonplace to Bible-believing Christians today, such as the blessed hope of Christ's imminent return, the clear distinction between law and grace, the unique position of the Church in God's purposes, the future blessing of Israel, etc., are truths that were largely recovered from obscurity and popularized by "brethren" writers and Bible teachers: J. N. Darby, F. W. Grant, H. A. Ironside, William Kelly, C. H. Mackintosh, Samuel Ridout, W. E. Vine, and many others. It is impossible to overestimate the impact these godly and gifted men have had on evangelical beliefs through the years. I mention this, not to exalt these men or the "brethren" movement, but because one hearing for the first time about these assemblies might mistakenly think they are another extreme sect, or even a cult, to be avoided. Not so; rather they have played a key role in the history of Bible-believing Christianity over the past two centuries, and they continue to hold without question to the fundamental doctrines of the faith; the deity of Christ, His sacrificial death, bodily resurrection and literal return, salvation through faith alone, the verbal inspiration of Scripture, etc.
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