| Founder(s) | Major W. Ian Thomas |
|---|---|
| Type | Registered as a British charity and a private company, limited by guarantee with no share capital |
| Registration No. | Company number 03573958 Charity number 1073139 |
| Founded | 1947 (bible school) 1998 (charitable company) |
| Location | Capernwray Hall, Capernwray, Carnforth LA6 1AG, England |
| Key people | Mark Thomas (MD) Phil Burt (Business Director) Rob Whittaker (Bible School Principal) Dougie Roy (Holiday Prog Dir.) |
| Area served | UK / World |
| Mission | To proclaim the transforming presence of Jesus Christ through biblical teaching and practical training, equipping men and women for service in his Church worldwide. |
| Method | Short-term bible schools Residential holidays and conferences |
| Revenue | £1.847m (2011) [1] |
| Volunteers | 20 to 50 |
| Employees | 31 |
| Subsidiaries | Capernwray Parkland Farm Ltd (responsible for the running of the farm and estate of Capernwray Hall) |
| Website | www.capernwray.org.uk |
| The Capernwray Missionary Fellowship of Torchbearers is an autonomous body but is part of a broader fellowship known as Torchbearers International. | |
The Capernwray Missionary Fellowship of Torchbearers (CMFOT), is an evangelical Christian educational organisation based at Capernwray Hall in north Lancashire, England. In 1998 the organisation was incorporated as a UK charitable company.
CMFOT was founded by Major W. Ian Thomas in 1947. Other centres have since been established around the world and together form a worldwide fellowship known as Torchbearers International, with headquarters at Ravencrest Chalet, Estes Park, Colorado, USA.
Torchbearers International's goal is to provide practical Christian education to develop personal spiritual growth, prepare people for an effective Church life, and teach a working knowledge of the Bible. The organization works by providing a number of bible schools and Christian conference centres around the world. Their mission statement is: "Our Mission is to proclaim the transforming presence of Jesus Christ through Biblical teaching and practical training, equipping men and women for service in His Church worldwide."
CMFOT's founder, Major W. Ian Thomas (1914 - 2007), was an evangelical teacher and has often been identified with the Keswick Convention ministry. The main thrust of his theology is that of the exchanged life or 'Christ in You'.[2] Major Thomas' sons are continuing from their father in the wider organisation. Mark Thomas is the current managing director at Capernwray Hall, Chris Thomas is director at Ravencrest, Colorado, USA and Peter Thomas is director at Monavale, New Zealand.
Capernwray Hall was first used as a Bible School in Autumn 1947, to meet a demand for sound Bible teaching for the many new converts from holiday conferences held at the hall. The school has matured and grown over the years so that in the first decade of the 21st century, each Winter and Spring, the Hall fills to its capacity of 190 students, from sometimes as many as 30 different nations. During the Summer, Easter and Christmas breaks the facilities are used for Christian conferences and holidays.