The Episcopal Church

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The Episcopal Church was founded in the 16th century during the Protestant Reformation on the belief to spread Christianity and worship . The Episcopal church originated from the Church of England that modeled much of it’s religious beliefs from the Roman Catholic Church. Episcopalians (followers of the Episcopal Church) refer to their religion as “Protestant, yet Catholic,” (Wikipedia). I had the privilege to interview one of my teachers from middle school, Erin Havens. She grew up as a conservative Episcopalian, and described that experience as being almost identical to, “The way the Roman Catholics hold their masses, holidays and how they practice their beliefs,” (Havens). Which is true, because most of the modeling of the faith is role modeled after the Catholic Church other than some key differences.
Episcopalians go to church every Sunday, and it’s setting and how the service is carried out is as formal as the Catholic Church. Episcopalians go through their liturgies, readings, song and prayer just like Catholics and receive the Eucharist also. Unlike the Catholics they don’t believe in transubstantiation (wine and bread becoming the literal body and blood of Jesus Christ). Episcopalians respect the Eucharist for all it symbolizes (Jesus Christ dying for follower’s sins), but they do not believe it is the actual blood and body of Jesus. Episcopalians receive the Eucharist about every other week (Havens), and kneel down before the cross when they do so. Episcopalians celebrate Seven Sacraments (same as Catholics) which are: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony and Holy Orders (Beaven). The most holy time of the year for them is Lent which leads up to Easter. Another really important time for Epi...

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...Jackson A. Dykman. Annotated Constitution and Canons for the Government of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, Adopted in General Conventions, 1789-1952. Greenwich, CT: Seabury, 1954. Print.
8. Beaven, James. A Catechism on the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England with Additions and Alterations Adapting It to the Book of Common Prayer of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States. Montreal?: S.n., 1861. Print.

9. The Reformed Episcopal Church: What Is It? Philadelphia, PA: Reformed Episcopal Publication Society, 1950. Print.

10. "Anglican Priest FAQs." Anglican Priest FAQs. Web. 19 May 2014. .

11."Calendar of Saints (Episcopal Church)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 May 2014. Web. 19 May 2014. .

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