St. Mark's Episcopal Church

A brief history of the Episcopal Church

 

Episcopalians trace their Christian roots back to the early Church, and their identity to the post-Reformation expansion of the Church of England and the Founding of the Episcopal Church in the United States.

 

Episcopalians uphold the catholic and apostolic faith. Following the teachings of Jesus, the Churches are committed to the proclamation of the good news of the Gospel to the whole creation. In practice this is based on the revelation contained in Holy Scripture and the catholic creeds, and is interpreted in light of Christian tradition, scholarship, reason and experience.

 

By baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a person is made one with Christ and received into the fellowship of the Church. This sacrament of initiation is open to children and adults.

 

Central to worship for Episcopalians is the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, also called Holy Communion, the Lord's Supper or the Mass. In this offering of prayer and praise, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus are recalled through the proclamation of the word and the celebration of the sacrament.

 

To be an Episcopalian is to be on a journey of faith supported by co-believers who are dedicated to finding God through prayer and service.