What is an Episcopalian?

The History of the Episcopal Church begins in the Church of England.  The beginnings of the Church of England, from which The Episcopal Church derives, date to at least the second century, when merchants and other travelers first brought Christianity to England. It is customary to regard St. Augustine of Canterbury’s mission to England in 597 as marking the formal beginning of the church under papal authority, as it was to be throughout the Middle Ages.

In its modern form, the church dates from the English Reformation of the 16th century, when royal supremacy was established and the authority of the papacy was repudiated. With the advent of British colonization, the Church of England was established on every continent. In time, these churches gained their independence, but retained connections with the mother church in the Anglican Communion.

Visit the Episcopal Church website here.

What do Episcopalians believe?

The beliefs of the Episcopal Church are summed up in our Baptismal Covenant.  A mini catechism used at baptisms and on Easter and other special occasions, the Baptismal Covenant opens with a question-and-answer version of the statement of faith that is the Apostles’ Creed and adds five questions regarding how we, as Christians, are called to live out our faith.  Click on the following links to find out more about what we believe. 

The Bible

The Book of Common Prayer

Catechism

The Creeds

Baptism

Communion

Liturgy and Music

Liturgical Calendar

The Sacraments

Bible Study

 How may I arrange a meeting with the priest?

To schedule a meeting with The Reverend Rachel Petty, call or email the church office.  

What is the Book of Common Prayer?

The Book of Common Prayer is the prayer book used by the Episcopal Church.  It is a treasure chest full of devotional and teaching resources for individuals and congregations, but it is also the primary symbol of our unity. We, who are many and diverse, come together in Christ through our worship, our common prayer.  A copy of the book of common prayer can be found here.  Downloads of the Book of Common prayer, in English and Spanish, are available here. 

Is the Episcopal Church Protestant or Catholic?

Yes… both… neither… either… Anglicanism is often referred to as a bridge tradition. When the Church of England separated from Rome, it did not consider itself to be Protestant. As the church evolved in England, certain elements of the Reformation surfaced. In an attempt to reconcile the views of the Reformers with those of the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican tradition became a home for both. Most worshiping communities fall somewhere in the middle.