Catholic and Apostolic Church is the only name recognised by those often termed 'Irvingites'—a name which they repudiate as implying that they are sectarians and followers of a man. In the winter of 1829–30 the Rev. Edward Irving (q.v.), then a minister of the Scotch Church, Regent Square, London, delivered a series of lectures on spiritual gifts, in which he maintained that those which we are in the habit of calling 'extraordinary' or 'miraculous' were not meant to be confined to the primitive church, but to be continued through the whole period of the present dispensation. About the same time, as if to confirm the views of the great preacher, there occurred at Port-Glasgow, in the west of Scotland, and elsewhere, certain strange phenomena. It was alleged that miraculous acts of healing had happened, and that the gift of tongues had returned. After what seemed to be a sufficient investigation on the part of some of the members of Mr Irving's church, it was concluded that the manifestations were genuine. Similar manifestations shortly after occurred in his own church, which were also pronounced to be genuine. They were held to be of two kinds: 1st, speaking in tongues, and 2d, prophesying. As the former bore no resemblance to any language with which men were conversant, it was believed to be strictly an 'unknown tongue,' the Holy Ghost 'using the tongue of man as a sign in a manner which neither his own intellect could dictate, nor that of any other man comprehend.' The latter, 'prophesying,' consisted chiefly of 'exhortations to holiness, light upon Scripture, open- ings of prophecy, and explanations of symbols.' In 1831 Irving was deposed from his office for heresy by the Church of Scotland, but meanwhile the truths of which he was so eminent an exponent had been assuming a more definite shape. He died in 1834. It was not till July 1835 that the Catholic and Apostolic Church took definite ecclesiastical shape. With this organisation Irving had no concern, nor had he anticipated it.
The organisation comprises a fourfold ministry (Ezek. i. and Eph. iv.)—1st, 'Apostle;' 2d, 'Prophet;' 3d, 'Evangelist;' and 4th, 'Pastor.' The apostles are invested with spiritual prerogatives; they alone can minister the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, directly or by delegation; through them the mysteries of God are unfolded to the church; and they decide on matters of order and discipline. Nothing that occurs in any church in the way of 'prophetic utterance' can be authoritatively explained save by them; and the various 'angels of the churches' are bound to bring all such utterances under their cognisance. The function of the 'prophet' has been already indicated. The work of an 'evangelist' consists in declaring the truths of the gospel, and bringing home to the church generally the principles taught by apostles. The office of the 'pastor' is that of ministering to the help and comfort of the various members of the flock. The 'angel' of the Catholic Apostolic congregation corresponds in a limited sense to the bishop of other Christian denominations; but he has only the rank of angel-pastor in the universal church. The ministers of each full congregation comprise an angel, with a four-fold ministry (consisting of elders, prophets, evangelists, and pastors), and a ministry of deacons to give diaconal instruction and to take charge of temporal matters. The ministry is supported by tithes, the people giving a tenth of their income for the support of the priesthood. The ordinary affairs of the church are managed by the angel in a council of deacons, or if needful, of priests and deacons. The whole organisation is based on the types of the Mosaic tabernacle, in which the constitution of the Christian church is held to have been shadowed forth.
The congregation of this communion do not arrogate to themselves the title of the Catholic Apostolic Church. There is but one church built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets; the members of it throughout the world are not baptised into any section—Greek, Roman, Protestant, established, or non-established—but into the Eternal Trinity. A community of them holding the views above indicated regard themselves as a congregation of the Catholic and Apostolic Church assembling at a given place.
The Catholic and Apostolic Church does not differ from other Christian bodies in regard to the common doctrines of the Christian religion; it only accepts, in what it considers to be a fuller and more real sense, the phenomena of Christian life. It believes that the wonder, mystery, and miracle of the apostolic times were not accidental, but are essential to the divinely instituted church of God, and expressive of its supernatural life, whereby a people are preparing for the second advent of Christ, the hope of which is held in instant expectation. It is held that the end of this dispensation has two phases—the gathering of a first-fruits, and the subsequent great harvest, of which it is the earnest. The doctrine of Symbolism is firmly maintained, of which the most marked feature regards the mystical presence of the Lord under the elements of bread and wine, duly consecrated by the words of the institution and the presence of the Holy Ghost. Both transubstantiation and consubstantiation are repudiated. There are services daily at 6 o'clock A.M. and 5 P.M.; prayers at 9 A.M. and 3 P.M.; the litany every Wednesday and Friday; and the eucharist is celebrated every Lord's Day, or, where there are clergy enough, daily. The liturgy, dating from 1842, is mainly based on those of the Greek, Roman and Anglican liturgies, with additional prayers. Lights and incense are used; and the vestments (surplice, alb, cope, chasuble, and stole) are similar to those of the Roman communion. The Catholic and Apostolic Church has established itself not only in the United Kingdom and its colonies, but on the Continent and in the United States.
See the Liturgy of the Divine Offices, and The Purpose of God in Creation and Redemption (6th ed. 1888). Miller's History and Doctrines of Irvingism (1878) is not authoritative, but contains much matter of interest.