as an act of faith. This led to judicial criticism when children died due to lack of treatment. In response to the concern about refusing medical care, which led to some parents being imprisoned after a 1910 diphtheria outbreak in Essex, the sect split between the 'Old Peculiars', who still rebuffed medicine, and the 'New Peculiars', who somewhat reluctantly condoned it. The split healed in the 1930s, when in general the New Peculiar position prevailed. During the two world wars, some Peculiar People were conscientious objectors, believing as they still do that war is contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Union of Evangelical Churches Church membership had peaked in the 1850s with 43 chapels, but it declined until 1956, when the Peculiar People changed their name to the less conspicuous Union of Evangelical Churches. The movement continues with regular worship at 16 remaining chapels in Essex and London. Some of the traditional distinctive features mentioned have been abandoned, so that UEC churches today are similar to other Evangelical churches. The UEC maintains its structure as a connection of churches, but is associated with the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches and Affinity. It has its central office at Eastwood Road Evangelical Church, 36 Eastwood Road, Rayleigh, Essex SS6 7JQ. The 16 UEC churches are in Camberwell,in London, and Canning Town, Chelmsford, Corringham, Cressing, Daws Heath, Eastwood, Great Wakering, Little Totham, Rayleigh, Shoeburyness, Southend, Stanford-le-Hope, Stanway, Wickford and Witham in Essex. Although services had previously been discontinued at Rayleigh, Shoeburyness, and Stanford-le-Hope and the churches temporarily closed, all three are now home to regular worshipping congregations once again. References External links Union of Evangelical Churches website History of the Peculiar Peoples Churches in Eastern Essex Methodism in the United Kingdom 1838 establishments in England Religious organisations based in England Religious organizations established in 1838