St. John's Anglican Church

I visited St. John's Anglican Church this Sunday (March 27) which meets at the Luccessi Community Center at 320 N. McDowell (with a Traditional service at 8:30, and a Contemporary service at 10:30 - I went to the 10:30 service). Though the service is liturgical, the setting is informal. This is because they broke with the Episcopalian denomination a few years back and lost their beautiful church building at 40 Fifth Street (after arbitration with the denomination). They (along with many other conservative Episcopalians) broke with the denomination over the promotion to bishop of an openly homosexual priest (the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back, though many other issues had long been a source of contention between conservative and liberal Episcopalians for many years).

Anyway, most members followed the conservative pastor/priest, David Miller, to the community center, though the church seeks another building. David Miller, at one time used to be a hippie guru before converting to Christ and his Episcopal upbringing. The church has an average attendance of around 200 between both services.

Anglicans/Episcopals trace their roots back to when King Henry VIII of England broke with Rome in order to annul the marriage to his wife with whom he had no child. Their history sways back and forth between Catholic and Protestant traditions, though mostly leaning towards the latter. After the American Revolution, it was not PC to be part of the Church of England, so the churches in America became the Episcopal Church with ties to the Anglican Communion. The Anglo-Catholic movement during the latter 19th and early 20th Century brought a resurgence in Catholic tradition. These days, it is sometimes hard to tell the difference between a Catholic or Episcopal/Anglican service.

Anyway, I have known this community for sometime who ardently prayed for me while I literally laid on my deathbed a number of years ago, and they always hold a special place in my heart.  I am always encouraged when I visit them.