Anglican church near me

Anglican vs. Episcopal: what's the difference?

In American usage, "Episcopal" and "Anglican" are related but not identical:

• Episcopal Church (TEC) — the historic American Anglican denomination; member of the worldwide Anglican Communion (which includes the Church of England); founded in 1789 as the American successor to the colonial Church of England; has moved progressively in recent decades on LGBTQ+ ordination, same-sex marriage, and theological questions; approximately 1.7 million members; governed by General Convention
• Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) — formed in 2009 by congregations and dioceses that left TEC over theological concerns; theologically conservative; does not ordain practicing homosexuals or perform same-sex marriages; approximately 130,000 members; in communion with many Global South Anglican provinces (Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya) but not with Canterbury directly; sometimes called "continuing Anglican" or simply "Anglican" by its members
• Other Anglican bodies — several smaller continuing Anglican jurisdictions exist, including the Anglican Province of America and the Reformed Episcopal Church (founded 1873); they vary in their theological positions and liturgical practices

Anglican theology and worship

What distinguishes Anglican worship from other Protestant traditions:

• The Book of Common Prayer — the central liturgical document of Anglicanism; the 1662 BCP shaped English prose and Christian worship for centuries; American Anglicans use various versions (TEC uses the 1979 BCP; ACNA has produced a new 2019 BCP drawing on older texts); the BCP structures all Anglican worship — Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, Holy Eucharist, baptism, marriage, burial
• Liturgical worship — Anglican services follow a set order; Scripture reading, the creed, prayers, and the Eucharist are standard features; the liturgical year (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost) is observed
• The "three-legged stool" — Anglicanism is often described as drawing on Scripture, tradition, and reason; Richard Hooker's 16th-century formulation; gives Anglicanism a more flexible theological method than strict confessionalism
• The 39 Articles — the historic doctrinal standard of Anglicanism; Protestant in content (justification by faith, the authority of Scripture) while maintaining Catholic forms; still formally subscribed to by some Anglican bodies, treated as historical documents by others
• Episcopal governance — Anglicanism is governed by bishops (hence "episcopal," from episcopos, bishop); bishops oversee geographic dioceses; the Archbishop of Canterbury is the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion but has no juridical authority over other provinces

High church vs. low church Anglican

Anglican churches span a wide spectrum of worship style, sometimes called "churchmanship":

• High church (Anglo-Catholic) — smells and bells; incense, vestments, elaborate liturgy, frequent Eucharist; emphasizes continuity with Catholic tradition; closer to Roman Catholic in practice; common in some TEC cathedrals and historic parishes
• Broad church (middle Anglican) — moderate liturgy; balanced between Catholic and evangelical; the typical parish church experience in England and in much of TEC
• Low church (evangelical Anglican) — simple liturgy; emphasis on Scripture and preaching; less ceremonial; more similar to other evangelical Protestant services; common in ACNA and in Anglican church plants targeting younger demographics
• Charismatic Anglican — liturgical structure combined with charismatic worship (contemporary music, spiritual gifts); significant in some ACNA congregations and the Anglican Mission in the Americas

Notable Anglican and Episcopal churches in America

• Washington National Cathedral — the most prominent Episcopal church in America; neo-Gothic masterpiece; used for national memorial services
• Trinity Church Wall Street, New York — one of the wealthiest and most historically significant parishes in America; colonial roots; prominent in lower Manhattan
• Church of the Resurrection, Kansas City (ACNA) — one of the largest and most influential ACNA congregations; led by Andrew Arndt; a model for ACNA church planting
• Saint Andrew's Anglican Church, Little Rock — prominent ACNA congregation; theologically conservative
• Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia — historic TEC parish in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood

What to expect at an Anglican service

• A printed or projected liturgy — following the BCP or a similar order; first-time visitors are given guidance
• Standing and sitting at set points in the service — the liturgy has movements that may feel formal at first but become natural
• Scripture reading — typically three readings: Old Testament, Epistle, Gospel; the Gospel is often read in the center of the congregation with ceremonial attention
• The Nicene Creed — said together by the congregation
• The Eucharist — central to Anglican worship; frequency varies by congregation (weekly in most, monthly in some); communion may be open to baptized Christians (TEC) or to members (some ACNA congregations)

Frequently asked questions

Is the Anglican Church Catholic or Protestant?

Both and neither — and Anglicans have debated this for 500 years. The Church of England broke with Rome over Henry VIII's marriage but retained Catholic bishops, sacraments, liturgy, and much of Catholic practice. The 39 Articles are Protestant in theology. Anglicanism has been described as "Reformed Catholic" or "the via media (middle way)" between Roman Catholicism and continental Protestantism. Today, high-church Anglo-Catholics see themselves as part of the Catholic tradition; evangelical Anglicans identify primarily as Protestant. The tension is not resolved; it is one of Anglicanism's defining characteristics.

Can non-Anglicans take communion at an Anglican church?

In the Episcopal Church, communion is open to all baptized Christians. The 1979 BCP explicitly welcomes baptized Christians regardless of denomination. Many ACNA congregations practice similar open communion to baptized believers, though some are more restrictive. If you are uncertain, speak to the priest before the service — Anglican clergy are generally welcoming and happy to explain the practice of their specific congregation.