The History of the Episcopal Church

The Episcopal Church is the name given to a church that adheres to the Anglican tradition outside of the British Commonwealth. King Henry VIII founded the Anglican Church after he broke from the Catholic Church for a variety of reasons. The Episcopal Church is mainly found in the United States today and it is one of the largest Protestant organizations in America.

The early years

After the American Revolution, members of the Church of England, also known as the Anglican Church, wanted a church that did not require clergy to swear allegiance to the British monarch. Thus, they named their church the Episcopal Church to circumvent this rule. In 1865, the Episcopal Church opened the first society for African Americans within the church, which is just one of the ways in which this church is progressive. Many upper-class Americas, including members of the J.P. Morgan family, joined the Episcopal Church in its early years. This has led to the church having a strong tradition of philanthropy associated with it.

The present church

The Episcopal Church remains at the forefront on a variety of social issues. They worked to abolish slavery, enhance the rights of women and give equal rights to gay and lesbians. The church ordains both men and women, including those that are gay or lesbian. Some of the dioceses celebrate same-sex marriage unions as well.

The Episcopal Church is closely tied to the Anglican Church in Britain and shares many of the same prayers and agendas. Episcopalians tend to have more progressive ideals, and they have fought for major social changes in America. This church is especially predominant on the East Coast.