Who Are Episcopalians and Anglicans?

Episcopalians and Anglicans trace their Christian roots to the early Church, and their Anglican identity to the Church of England. The name "Anglican" means "of England", but the Anglican church exists worldwide, known in some countries as the Episcopal church (including in the USA). Originally part of the Roman Catholic church, the split came during the time of King Henry VIII of England. He dissolved the monasteries and abbeys in 1536. The newly-separated Anglican church was given formal structure in 1562 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. That structure is not based on administration but rather on shared tradition and shared belief.

Our belief is written down in the Holy Bible and the Articles of Religion; our tradition is in part embodied in our Book of Common Prayer. The first Book of Common Prayer was produced in 1549, and instead of being in Latin, the liturgy was translated into English. It has been revised numerous times since then, the most famous being the 1662 English Book of Common Prayer which forms the historical basis for most Anglican liturgy around the world. While several countries have their own prayer books (including the USA), all borrow heavily from the English tradition.

In the 17th century and beyond, Anglicanism was established during colonization in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Asia and Latin America. The Episcopal Church in the USA has its origins in the Church of England in the American colonies. The first American parish was founded in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. In the wake of the Revolution, American Episcopalians revised the Book of Common Prayer to reflect their new political allegiances.

During the nineteenth century as the United States grew, new dioceses were established, and over a quarter of all presidents of the United States have been Episcopalians. In 1940, the Episcopal Shield was adopted, a combination of the St George's Cross, a symbol of England, with the Cross of St Andrew, in reference to historical links to the Episcopal Church in Scotland. The Episcopal Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Washington, D.C., is referred to as the Washington National Cathedral.

The leader of the Worldwide Anglican Communion is the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. The leader of the American Episcopal Church is Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori. The leaders of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas are Bishop James Stanton and Bishop Paul Lambert.

The Anglican Communion has over 70 million members in 161 countries. Anglicans speak many languages and come from different races and cultures. The churches are autonomous, but they are also unified through history, theology, worship and their relationship to the ancient See of Canterbury.

Anglicans uphold the Catholic and Apostolic faith. Following the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Churches are committed to proclaiming the good news of the Gospel to all creation, through Holy Scripture and the catholic (universal) creeds, and is interpreted in light of Christian tradition, scholarship, reason and experience.

By baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a person is made one with Christ and received into the fellowship of the Church. This sacrament is open to children as well as to adults. Central to worship for Anglicans is the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, also called the Holy Communion, the Lord's Supper or the Mass. In this offering of prayer and praise, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are recalled through the proclamation of the word and the celebration of the sacrament. Other important rites, commonly called sacraments, include confirmation, holy orders, reconciliation, marriage and anointing of the sick.