Church of England (Continuing)
The Church of England (Continuing) is part of the Continuing Anglican Movement. The church was founded in England on 10 February 1994 at a meeting chaired by David Samuel held at St Mary's, Castle Street, Reading, in reaction to the use of the Alternative Service Book and to the ordination of women. The church holds to the unmodified Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion of the Church of England and to the 1662 Book of Common Prayer which alone is used by its parishes for worship.
Although the church was widely discussed in Anglican circles at the time of its founding, it has not achieved significant growth since that time.
Four congregations are listed by the church as of 2013:[1]
- St Mary's Church, Castle Street, Reading, Berkshire – minister, Edward J. Malcolm
- St John's Church, Colliers Wood, London, minister – Peter Ratcliff
- St Silas' Church, Wolverhampton
- Holy Trinity Church, Frinton-on-Sea, lay minister, Philip Lievesley
The first bishop of the church was David Samuel, now retired and assistant bishop. He was succeeded by Edward Malcolm, minister of St Silas' Wolverhampton, who died on 17 November 2013.[2] The current presiding bishop is Edward J. Malcolm, minister of St Mary's, Reading. In addition, John Shearer serves as a freelance minister and there are several lay readers and preachers.
The episcopal succession of the church is from the mother Church of England through the following lineage of bishops:
John Moore, Archbishop of Canterbury, who consecrated (4 February 1787) William White, who consecrated (31 October 1832) John Henry Hopkins, who consecrated (1 May 1867) Daniel S. Tuttle, who consecrated (6 June 1911) James De Wolf Perry, who consecrated (14 October 1930) Henry Knox Sherrill, who consecrated (5 April 1951) Arthur C. Lichtenberger, who consecrated (1 October 1962) Albert A. Chambers, who consecrated (28 January 1978) Charles Doren, who consecrated (2 June 1984) Albion Knight, who consecrated (11 June 1995) David Samuel, who consecrated (13 September 1998) Edward Malcolm. David Samuel also consecrated (23 November 2013) Edward J. Malcolm.[3]
The church holds an annual conference at Benson, Oxfordshire.
Since 2008 the church has regularly exhibited at the Christian Resources Exhibition at Esher, Surrey and elsewhere in England.
The church publishes a magazine called The Journal as well as other literature and books.
References
- ↑ "Congregations". Church of England (Continuing). Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ↑ "Edward Malcolm (obituary)". English Churchman. 13 December 2013.
- ↑ Simpson, Peter (29 November 2013). "Church of England (Continuing) consecrate new bishop.". English Churchman. Retrieved 19 December 2013.