A data processing system and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, the data processing system preferably maintains a plurality of substantially continuously available data processing service instances. The plurality of data processing service instances may be aggregated into groups of one or more instances of like data processing services. A service control manager is also preferably provided as an individual service running on the system and is operable to organize, manage and maintain the various service instances as well as other aspects of the data processing system. The service control manager preferably also cooperates with the individual services of a message queue manager, a service queue manager and an application services manager to effect the efficient distribution and processing of received data as well as perform other system management operations.