The Episcopal Catholic Church (ECC) is a tiny, self-governing Catholic church that dates back to the Old Catholic Movement. The ECC was created in 1949 by a group of Anglican clergy and laypeople seeking a more traditional expression of Christianity that included sacraments like The Eucharist, liturgical liturgy, and apostolic succession.
The Eucharist
The Eucharist is a major sacrament in the Christian religion that commemorates and re-enacts Jesus Christ’s Last Supper with his followers as portrayed in the Bible’s New Testament. “Eucharist” is of course derived from the Greek word “eucharistia,” which likely means “thanksgiving.”
The Eucharist is known as “Holy Communion” in the Catholic, Orthodox, and certain Anglican and Lutheran traditions, and it is one of the Church’s seven sacraments. It entails the use of consecrated bread and wine during a liturgical liturgy by a priest or bishop.
The consecration of the bread and wine is considered to turn them into the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ, a concept known in Catholic theology as transubstantiation. Following the consecration, the bread and wine are delivered to the assembly as a sacramental supper representing Christ’s presence in their lives.
The Eucharist is said to have a variety of meanings and functions, including:
A memorial of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and a reminder of his presence in Christians’ lives.
A meal shared by Christians to commemorate their unity and fellowship.
As Christians share in the flesh and blood of Christ, they receive grace and spiritual nourishment from God.
A source of strength and empowerment for Christians to go out into the world and help others.
Ultimately, the Eucharist is a vital and essential sacrament in the Christian faith, reflecting Christ’s presence and providing Christians with spiritual nutrition and strength.
The ECC is not associated with the Roman Catholic Church, although it considers itself a part of it and has its own genuine apostolic succession. It is also unaffiliated with the Episcopal Church in the United States, despite historical and liturgical ties to the Episcopal tradition.
The ECC stresses the sacraments, notably the Eucharist, as well as the role of bishops as apostles’ successors. Its worship is marked by a great degree of ritual and ceremonial, akin to the Roman Catholic Church’s traditional liturgy. The ECC also highlights the value of the Bible and the early Church Fathers’ teachings.
The ECC is a minor denomination with a few thousand members in the United States and elsewhere. It has its own seminary, Epiphany Theological College, and its bishops are present in a number of countries, including the United States, Canada, and the Philippines.
Overall, the Episcopal Catholic Church is a tiny but historically significant church that represents a distinct style of Catholicism that stresses liturgy, sacraments, and apostolic succession.
Historical Significance of the ECC
There are two main significant historical facts that you should know about the ECC:
First, the ECC is a continuation of the Old Catholic Movement, which began in the nineteenth century in response to the First Vatican Council’s dogmatic and disciplinary pronouncements. The Old Catholic Movement opposed papal infallibility and emphasized the importance of the episcopacy, apostolic succession, and sacraments. The ECC is one of several independent Catholic churches with roots in the Old Catholic Movement.
Second, the ECC is a significant development in the Anglican tradition, which has traditionally been associated with the Church of England. The ECC was created by Anglicans seeking a more traditional presentation of Christianity including sacraments, liturgical liturgy, and apostolic succession. While not technically linked with the Anglican Communion, the ECC has historical and liturgical ties to the Episcopal tradition in the United States.
Major US locations
The Episcopal Catholic Church has several locations in the United States, including:
- The Cathedral of the Incarnation in Orlando, Florida, which serves as the ECC’s central cathedral. ***Please see the note and picture below***
- The Church of the Holy Innocents in New York, New York, which is the oldest ECC parish in the United States.
- St. John the Divine Church in White Plains, New York, which serves as the ECC’s seminary, the Epiphany Theological College.
- St. James Anglican Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri, which is the largest ECC parish in the United States.
- St. Mark’s Episcopal Catholic Church in Madison, Wisconsin.
- St. Joseph’s Episcopal Catholic Church in Detroit, Michigan.
- St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Catholic Church in San Francisco, California.
- Christ the King Episcopal Catholic Church in Topeka, Kansas.
- St. Thomas Episcopal Catholic Church in Houston, Texas.
This is the Gazebo that Tray Rabsky of Hollywood Marine Construction recently built for us. Tray was a member as a child and after reuniting with him again last year on a family trip, he promised to drive himself, his crew, and the needed supplies to renovate our deck and bring it back to life. They also built a custom gazebo for pictures and a scenic overlook. We can’t thank the hard working crew at HMC enough for their generosity and time. We are so thankful and we pray we can pay their charity forward in next months Feed the Homeless dinner party.