Sunday School Instructional Eucharist Submitted by Eric Hall

Areas of the

Each area of the has a name. As you walk through our double doors you find:

Narthex The narthex is an architectural element typical of early Christian and Byzantine or churches consisting of the entrance or lobby area, usually located at the west end of the Nave, opposite the church's main . Traditionally the narthex was a part of the church building but was not considered part of the church proper. It is either an indoor area separated from the Nave by a screen or rail, or an external structure such as a porch. (Wikipedia) St. Philip has the glass wall and double doors. This is the area we gather in preparation for the . Sometimes the choir will sing an introit which is a hymn to prepare the congregation for the service.

Youth Definition – The front yard of the church (Tealiah Hillmon)

Nave The central space in a church, extending from the narthex to the chancel and often flanked by aisles ( dictionary.com) This is the section that the congregation sits in. Our Nave holds approximately 325 people with two side aisles and a center aisle.

Youth Definition – Den or Living Room (the gathering place).

Lectern A reading desk in a church on which the Bible rests and from which the lessons are read during the church service (dictionary.com), on the Epistle or right side of the chancel area. It is typically used by lay people to read the scripture lessons (except for the lesson), to lead the congregation in prayer, and to make announcements. Because the epistle lesson is usually read from the lectern, the lectern side of the church is called the Epistle Side. The lectern will generally be smaller than the pulpit, and both may be adorned with antipendia in the color of the liturgical season. (Wikipedia) This is the area in front of the choir pews. Youth Definition – Could be a study or Library a place where you learn or study.

Pulpit In some Protestant churches, the pulpit is considered the most important piece of furniture in the sanctuary. It is where the minister stands and may be decorated with a "pulpit fall", a piece of cloth that covers the top of the pulpit and hangs down the front. Pulpits are usually located on the Gospel or the left side of the chancel area. (Wikipedia) This is on the right side of the church and is circular with one step up.

St. Philip was built with the lectern and pulpit reversed. As of now no one can remember why it was done that way.

Youth Definition-This could be the refrigerator (food storage), Bed (where you rest), Table (family gathering spot). Any part of the house that brings peace or comfort.

Chancel

The chancel is a part of the architecture of many churches. It serves as a barrier between the part of the church accessible to lay people and the choir, which was reserved to the clergy. In St. Philip, it is where the organist, acolytes, chancel choir sits. Youth Definition – Hallway (the path that leads to a personal place you must be invited to enter)

Altar Rail The Altar rails are a set of railings, sometimes ornate and frequently of marble or wood, delimiting the chancel in a church,[1] the part of the sanctuary that contains the altar. A gate at the center divides the line into two parts. The sanctuary is a figure of heaven, into which entry is not guaranteed. Communicants receiving the Eucharist kneel at the railings to be given communion by a priest. (Wikipedia) In St. Philip it is the wooden rail before the steps that lead to the altar. Youth definition – breakfast bar or the front or back gate leading to the house or the doors to the house. Sanctuary A sanctuary, in its original meaning, is a sacred place, a consecrated area of a church or around its tabernacle or altar. (Wikipedia)

At St. Philip the deacons and priest sit on the Gospel side and the lay ministers and acolytes sit on the Epistle Side.

Youth Definition – An office, or a space you are allowed in but its not yours (ex. Parents bedroom).

Tabernacle The Gospel side of the sanctuary as houses the Tabernacle. Within Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and in some congregations of and Lutheranism, a tabernacle is a box-like vessel for the exclusive reservation of the consecrated Eucharist. It is normally made of metal, stone or wood, is lockable and secured to its altar to prevent the consecrated elements within from being removed without authorization. The "reserved Eucharist" is secured there for distribution at services, for availability to bring Holy Communion to the sick. (Wikipedia) At St. Philip, unless given special permission from the priest, only ordained persons are allowed to remove items from the tabernacle. Altar guild workers are the only exception as they clean and refill the Eucharist items stored there.

Youth Definition – This is china cabinet or butler pantry.

Sanctuary Lamp Christian churches often have at least one lamp continually burning before the tabernacle, not only as an ornament of the altar, but worship purposes as well. The sanctuary lamp is placed before the tabernacle or aumbry in Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, and Anglican churches as a sign that the Blessed Sacrament is reserved or stored. (Wikipedia)

St. Philip’s sanctuary lamp is usually blue but will change with the Christian seasons.

Youth Definition – If you have a prayer room this is where this candle will be. Or maybe like the candle in the window that is kept burning.

Altar The table on which the Eucharist bread and the wine are placed upon, and prayers of consecration and/or thanksgiving are offered by a priest or minister. The sacred ministers (priest, deacon, and sub deacon) would celebrate the Mass facing east, the same direction as the congregation, since they were praying the same collective prayer. Beginning in the Early Middle Ages, in Western Christian churches were being permanently placed against the east wall of the chancel, and the eastward orientation came to symbolically represent the collective focus on and worship of the Blessed Sacrament. Biblically, a passage proclaims that when returns he will come from the east, thus, the reason altars faced the east. When altars are placed away from the wall of the chancel allowing a westward orientation, only two candles are placed on either end of it, since six would obscure the liturgical action, undermining the intent of a westward orientation (i.e., that it be visible to the congregation). In such an arrangement, a tabernacle may stand to one side of or behind the altar, or an aumbry may be used.

At St. Philip our altar is an east facing altar and is also the highest part of the church. The three steps leading to the altar represent each of the three sacred ministers and or the Trinity, Our altar is also decorated with a frontal in the seasonal color.

Youth Definition – This would be like a dining room table or kitchen table.

Credence Table A credence table is a small side table in the sanctuary of a Christian church which is used in the celebration of the Eucharist. ( credens, -entis, believer). The credence table is usually placed near the wall on the epistle (south) side of the sanctuary and may be covered with a fine linen cloth. It is sometimes tended by an acolyte or altar server, and contains on it the implements that are used in the Eucharistic celebration, which may include the bread and wine prior to their consecration, a bowl, ewer and towel for the and the ablutions after Holy Communion, etc. The wafers for the communion of the faithful may be stored in a ciborium, or host box (sometimes erroneously referred to as a pyx). The wine and water for the chalice will be in cruets. The chalice, and paten, covered with their cloths and veil (see chalice cloths for details) may be placed on the credence from the beginning of the service until the Offertory, at which time they are moved to the altar.

Sacristy A sacristy is a room for keeping vestments (such as the alb and chasuble) and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records. The sacristy is also where the priest and attendants vest and prepare before the service. They will return there at the end of the service to remove their vestments and put away any of the vessels used during the service. The hangings and altar linens are stored there as well. Sacristies usually contain a special wash basin, called a piscina, the drain of which is properly called a "sacrarium" in which the drain flows directly into the ground to prevent sacred items such as used baptismal water from being washed into the sewers or septic tanks.

Our Sunday Service

At St. Philip Episcopal Church we have two worship services on Sunday’s; one at 8:00 am and one at 10:30 am. There are some churches who have up to four or more services a day or just one service a day, which ever number is needed to appropriately serve their parishioners’. The celebration of Episcopal Liturgy can reflect various time periods of our church history. High church (Anglo-Catholic), Low Church, Evangelical, Charismatic, etc… are the descriptions we use to identify the different presentations and theologies connected with the offering of our worship services. At St. Philip’s the description given to the worship offered here is Broad Church (meaning we have elements of all the different descriptions of worship styles).

At St. Philip we offer Rite I and Rite II services. Rite I is very traditional, solemn and very meditative. We now have music accompaniment with the Rite I service, however; this is resent addition. If you look at the Rite I service (pg. 323) you will notice that the wording is in Old English with a lot of thou’s and thee’s included. This is reflective of how people spoke during the time the Book of Common Prayer was first written (1549).

Rite II begins on page 355 of the Book of Common Prayer. It is a more contemporary service with singing and chanting at times and is a longer service all around.

The wonderful thing about the Book of Common Prayer is that it is “user friendly”. The BCP gives you directions for every part of the service. These directions are called rubrics. They are written in italics. Rubrics tell you (the congregation) when to speak (unless directed by clergy at a special part), keep silent, stand, sit, or kneel. Rubrics may also give you responses for different seasons of the church year and instruct what is mandatory in the service verses that which is optional. Guests would not be easily lost during the service (if you didn’t pick up on it, this last part is included so you feel comfortable bringing a guest or two to church with you on Sunday’s).

Eucharist – a Greek word meaning Thanksgiving

Liturgy – means works or offerings of the people

Other names for the Holy Eucharist are: Holy Communion, The Mass, The , and The Holy Supper.

Our Sunday mass is divided into two parts: The Liturgy of the Word (also called the Word of God in our Book of Common Prayer) and The Holy Communion. We will be studying the two parts of the service in its entirety one section at a time. One other thing. The church is color coded too. St. Philip’s church color (think school colors) are blue and white. The Episcopal Church uses the following breakdown to tell us what season we are in and what colors should be on the altar, lecterns, and pulpit. Ordinary Time – Green (The color that is used on the altar and on the priest's vestments during Ordinary Time is Green, which is a sign of hope or triumph of life over death, like re-growth in springtime) Advent Season – Purple (Since Advent is a time of expectation and preparation, the colors violet or purple are used in the vestments and decorations. Purple is a color that was reserved for use by royalty, and so it is used in Advent to symbolize the coming of Christ our King) (with Rose on the third Sunday) Christmas Season – Gold (The color of the vestments for this season is gold, white or silver, representing joy innocence and holiness). Lenten Season – Purple (Purple or violet are used on the altar and vestments during . These are symbolic of reflection and ). Season – White (The color used during the Easter season is white, signifying the joy of Christ's resurrection). Pentecost – Red (It symbolizes joy and the fire of the Holy Spirit.)

Start of the service

Introit - Sung by the choir and is a hymn of preparation for St. Philip.

Procession - An organized body of people walking in a formal or ceremonial manner.

Liturgy of the Word…

Liturgy of the Word – From the Greek words laos ergon: people work. In the beginning there were believers and non-believers in Bod and his son Jesus Christ. Thus, being the reason for separating the service into two parts. Historically, this part of the service was open to everyone who attended church. During the Liturgy of the Word everyone is gathered in the church to listen to the lessons for the day beginning with the Opening Acclamation, Collect of Purity, Gloria, Collect of the Day, followed by the Epistle, Psalm, the New Testament reading and finally the Gospel. It is peoples work because we as Christians are charged with going out and proclaiming the good works of God through Christ Jesus.

Opening Acclamation – This is the beginning of the service. There are three opening acclamations for the celebrant to choose from:

Blessed be God: Father, son, and Holy Spirit. People: And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever Amen.

Alleluia. Christ is Risen. People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia (This acclamation is used from Easter until Pentecost)

Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins; People: His mercy endures forever. LENT (This acclamation is used during Lent) Collect of Purity – We are praying that the Holy spirit will come amongst us to receive the benefits of our worship. During Rite I the Summary of the Law is added after the Collect. The summary reminds us of the two Commandments that God requires of everyone: to love God and to love our neighbors.

Gloria in Excelsis - The hymn begins with the words that the angels sang when the birth of Christ was announced to shepherds in Luke 2:14 (pg. 356)

Glory to God in the Highest and peace to his people on Earth Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

During Lent the Gloria is omitted and the Kyrie or Trisagion is used (we usually use the Kyrie in English).

Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy (English)LENT Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie elison (Latin) Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

Collect of the Day – any short prayer containing an invocation, a petition, and a pleading in Christ’s name or an ascription of glory to God. They are found on the insert of in the bulletin or in the BCP. Our Collects of the Day are in both Old English and Contemporary. They both outline the theme that the Scriptures have in relation to one another.

Epistle – A reference to the 21 letters that make up nearly half of the New Testament. Most are addressed to newly-formed congregation directed to individuals. Usually written to deal with four main issues including; dealing with a local issue, teaching doctrine or to argue doctrinal points, to instruct or admonish, and finally to encourage the fledgling Christians.

In modern times, the Epistles give a historical reference and information on the church. The 21 epistles include Romans, 1 and 2, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2, Thessalonians, 1 and 2, Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 and 2, Peter 1, 2, and 3, John, and Jude.

Psalm – 150 Jewish songs of praise. They are actually poems and song lyrics written by King David (of David and Goliath) and his staff. They are frequently called Psalms of David. The Psalms are located in the back of the BCP in numerical order. One of the most famous Psalms is the 23rd Psalm written by King David himself.

New Testament - the New Testament consists of 27 books. The original texts were written in the first and perhaps the second centuries of the Christian Era. All of the works which would eventually be incorporated into the New Testament would seem to have been written no later than around AD 150. [1]

Gospel - The first four books of the New Testament according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The purposes of the are to strengthen the faith of early Christians by providing written word of the Master. Mark is the shortest and first Gospel written, followed by Matthew, Luke (the longest Gospel), then John. The Gospel reader will open with:

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to______. People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

The will end the Gospel saying: The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to you, Lord Christ. Sermon - An address of religious instruction or exhortation, often based on a passage from the Bible, delivered during a church service. In modern times sermons can be delivered as a play or skit. The sermon is used to teach the people of the church what God through Christ Jesus wants us to do to ensure the people get in to heaven and to love one another as Christ loved us. It is used as a way for the congregation to become closer to God and understand the teachings of the bible, of the readings just read, or it may be used to connect the occasion that is being celebrated with church life or life in general. Nicene Creed – Began being used in church services around 480. It stands as the authoritative statement of Christian belief that Christ was unequivocally created by God, in both the Eastern and Western parts of the Church. We are stating our belief about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (R1. 326; R2 383)

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayers of the People - Their existence was first mentioned by Justin Martyr about the year 150, and for centuries they formed a vital part of the Daily Office and Eucharistic liturgy. In the early church they usually included a long series of biddings that were chanted by a deacon, to each of which the people responded with "Kyrie Eleison" (Lord have mercy). We pray for The Universal Church, its members, and its mission, the Nation and all in authority, the welfare of the world, the concerns of the local community, those who suffer and those in any trouble, the departed (with commemoration of a saint when appropriate). At St. Philip we also pray for those having birthdays, anniversaries, and serving in the military and special times like the building of the addition and the search for a new rector (R1 & R2 begin on page 383).

Absolution/ of Sins - Absolution may be pronounced following private confession of sins, as provided for by the two forms for The Reconciliation of a Penitent in the BCP (pp. 447-452). Absolution may also be pronounced following a general confession of sin in the Holy Eucharist. Historically, if you missed saying the confession of sins during service you did not go up to receive communion because to receive communion you should come to the altar with a clear conscience and sin free (R1 330; R2 360).

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought word and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

The or priest assures us that our sins have been forgiven by giving us God’s absolution (R1 332 R2 360). In Rite I, the Comfortable words are added after the absolution. The Comfortable Words are four scripture passages from the New Testament, which assures the worshiping body of the love of Christ (p. 332)

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

The Liturgy of the word has now ended.

As stated earlier the service is broken in two parts for the believers and for the non- believers. In the time immediately following the ascension of Christ, anyone and everyone could attend the Liturgy of the Word. It was a way of teaching the believers and converting the non-believers.

When the peace had been called, the non-believers were invited to the next Liturgy of the word, whenever that may be, and all baptized believers were invited to stay and share in the breaking of the bread for communion.

Now everyone may stay for the entire service, however, at St. Philip and most Christian churches, only those who are baptized may receive communion at the altar rail. Non-baptized Christians may receive a blessing instead by crossing their arms over their chest.

The Peace – Has not always been a part of the service. The Peace stands between the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. It is a ritual sign that the community is reconciled and can approach the Lord's Table in good conscience. It is the Body recognizing the Body and so, as St. Paul warns, not eating and drinking judgment against itself. The core of this rite is a simple human greeting that acknowledges the dignity of the others and accepts them, no matter who they happen to be. (Malloy, Celebrating the Eucharist (Church Publishing, 2007))

The Peace of the Lord be always with you. People: And also, with you

The Offertory…

The offertory – This is the time for the congregation to put their tithes, pledges, and sometimes prayer request into the offertory plates.

This is also the time for the choir to show off all the hard work they have done in rehearsal while the priest and or deacons prepare the altar for Eucharist or Communion.

Liturgy of Eucharist…

Holy Communion – the union between Christ and the person who receives him in the Sacrament, the union between all such persons and one another, and the union between the whole Church and the Lord.

It is reenacted in accordance with Jesus' instruction at the Last Supper, as recorded in several books of the New Testament, that his followers do in remembrance of him as when he gave his disciples bread, saying, "This is my body", and gave them wine saying, "This is my blood."[2][3] (Wikipedia)

Sanctus - the prayer of consecration of the bread and wine.

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The priest continues blessing the wine and the wafers for communion.

Memorial Acclamation – is the mystery of our faith

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

The Lord’s Prayer - is a prayer specially venerated in Christianity as taught by Jesus to his disciples. Two forms of it are recorded in the New Testament: a longer form in the Gospel of Matthew[6:5–13] as part of the Sermon on the Mount, and a shorter form in the Gospel of Luke[11:1–4] as a response by Jesus to a request by "one of his disciples" to teach them "to pray as John taught his disciples". The prayer concludes with "deliver us from evil" in Matthew, and with "lead us not into temptation" in Luke. The first three of the seven petitions in Matthew address God; the other four are related to our needs and concerns. The liturgical form is the Matthean. Some Christians, particularly Protestants, conclude the prayer with a doxology, a later addendum appearing in some manuscripts of Matthew. (Wikipedia)

Our Father, who art in heaven, Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, hallowed be your Name, thy kingdom come, your kingdom come, thy will be done, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. on earth as in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, Forgive us our sins as we forgive those as we forgive those who trespass against us. who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, Save us from the time of trial, but deliver us from evil. and deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, For the kingdom, the power, and the power, and the glory, and the glory are yours, for ever and ever. Amen. now and for ever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

Agnus Dei - is the invocation to the Lamb of God sung or recited during the fraction of the Host (breaking of the bread).[1] (Wikipedia)

[Alleluia.] Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; Therefore let us keep the feast. [Alleluia.] Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; Therefore let us keep the feast. [Alleluia.] Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; Therefore let us keep the feast. [Alleluia.]

Everyone sings Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia

Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world have mercy on us. Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world have mercy on us. Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace

After the Agnus Dei, we reenact the last supper with the blessing of the bread and the wine. Remembering Jesus’ sacrifice of dying for our sins on the cross and asking God to: Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom. (BCP)

The Invitation – this is simply a way for the priest to let the congregation know that they may now come to the altar rail to receive communion.

The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

Post Communion Prayer - is a spiritual practice among Christians who believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist they receive during Holy Communion, maintaining themselves in prayer for some time to thank God for what they believe to be the great gift of receiving God Himself in person (Wikipedia).

Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Dismissal – one of four saying to signify the end of the service usually said by the deacon:

Deacon: Let us go forth in the name of Christ. Deacon: Let us go forth into the world, People: Thanks be to God. rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. People: Thanks be to God.

or this

Deacon: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Deacon: Let us bless the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. People: Thanks be to God.

Summary of the Episcopal Church History: Timeline 1517: Martin Luther publishes 95 Theses, sparking the Protestant Reformation.

1521: Pope designates Henry VIII "Defender of the Faith." English monarchs to this day retain the title.

1529-36: Henry VIII and Parliament take over the administration of the Church in England. Destruction of monasteries ensues.

1547: Henry dies. He is succeeded by Edward VI, with Edward's uncle as Lord Protector.

1549: The first Book of Common Prayer is aproved, with Thomas Cranmer as principal author.

1552: The second Book of Common Prayer is approved.

1553: Edward VI dies at age 16. Mary becomes Queen, restores Roman Catholicism, and burns Cranmer, Latimer, and Ridley at the stake. She marries Philip II, the Roman Catholic monarch of Spain.

1558: Elizabeth I becomes Queen upon Mary's death and re-establishes the Church of England, with the English monarch as its highest earthly authority.

1559: The third Book of Common Prayer is approved. Puritans protest.

1563: The Thirty-Nine Articles are prepared; they are approved by Parliament in 1571.

1579: The first English-language Communion service is held in the Western Hemisphere (California) by Sir Francis Drake's .

1603: Elizabeth I dies at age 70; James I, of Scotland becomes king and authorizes a new translation of the Bible.

1607: The Church of England is established in the first permanent English- speaking settlement in the New World, Jamestown, Virginia. The Church of England is then also established in other mid-Atlantic and southern colonies.

1611: King James Version of the Bible is published.

1620: Pilgrims (Puritan religious refugees) land at Plymouth Rock.

1636: Harvard College is founded to train Congregational (Puritan) clergy.

1645: The Book of Common Prayer is outlawed by Puritan-controlled Parliament. 1649: King Charles I is executed in a revolution led by Puritan leader Oliver Cromwell, who became Lord Protector in 1653.

1658: Oliver Cromwell dies, and is succeeded by son Richard.

1660: Richard Cromwell is overthrown, and Charles II becomes king.

1662: The fourth Book of Common Prayer is approved, which is still in use by the Church of England.

1693: The College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, Virginia) is started by Church of England.

1699: The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) is founded.

1701: Yale College is founded to educate Congregational clergy.

1701: The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts is founded.

1607-1785: The Church of England in New World is overseen by the Bishop of London. The vestry system develops. Clergy are paid from taxes. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson serve on vestries.

1776: The Declaration of Independence is signed. Most Anglican clergy, who have sworn loyalty to the King in their ordinations, stay loyal.

1783: The Treaty of Paris ends the Revolutionary War.

1784: of Connecticut is consecrated the first overseas Anglican bishop by Scottish non-juring , after being elected in Connecticut and rejected by Church of England bishops, who, legally, could not ordain him. Seabury promised to use the Scottish 1764 Communion service, based on the Eastern Orthodox service.

1785: The First General Convention of Episcopal Church is held, with clergy and lay representatives from Delaware, , New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. The General Convention authorizes the preparation of an American Prayer Book and names itself the Protestant Episcopal Church in the of America.

1786: The proposed American Book of Common Prayer is approved for use on a state-by-state basis.

1787: of New York and William White of Philadelphia are consecrated bishops by the Church of England. Seabury's Scottish consecration helped motivate Parliament and the Church of England to do this. Both continue to be rectors. The second General Convention adopts basically the present Episcopal Church structure. Arevised Book of Common Prayer, prepared by White, is adopted; this version of the Book of Common Prayer is based on the 1662 Prayer Book with the exception of the 1764 Scottish Communion Service.

1804: Absalom Jones is ordained the first black priest in the Episcopal Church.

Early 1800s: Bishop Provoost of New York secures for New York a fair share of inheritance left by Queen Anne (d. 1714). Methodism gains strength in England and United States.

1817: General Convention authorizes the founding of the General Theological Seminary in .

1823: The Diocese of Virginia establishes a second Episcopal seminary, Virginia Theological Seminary, in Alexandria.

1839: The Diocese of Virginia establishes the first high school in Virginia, Episcopal High School (adjacent to Virginia Theological Seminary).

1833: The Oxford Movement (Anglo-Catholic) begins in England. In the following decades, many new Religious Orders (i.e., monastic communities) were formed.

1861-65: During the American Civil War, Southern Episcopal dioceses join the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Confederate States of America, but are welcomed back after war ends. Other denominations experience long term (100+ years) splits.

1873: Evangelical, "low church"-oriented Reformed Episcopal Church is founded.

1874: The Rt. Reverend James Theodore Holly was the first bishop of African decent consecrated in the Episcopal Church (Missionary Bishop of Haiti).

1885: The adopts the Chicago Quadrilateral. General Convention approves the Quadrilateral in 1886.

1888: The Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops adopts the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral.

1892: Minor revisions are made to the Book of Common Prayer.

1919: The National Council (now the Executive Council) is established by General Convention. The Office of the Presiding Bishop is established to oversee national church programs.

1928: The revised Book of Common Prayer includes language updates and a new translation of Psalms. "Love, honor, and obey" is dropped from the bride's vows in the service of Holy Matrimony. 1940: A new Hymnal is approved.

1944: Henry St. George Tucker becomes the Episcopal Church's first full-time Presiding Bishop.

1961: John Hines of Texas is elected Presiding Bishop. Strong social justice commitments elicit negative reaction from conservatives.

1970: The first authorized women members join the House of Deputies.

1970: Dr. Charles V. Willie was elected the first African-American Vice President of the house of Deputies.

1970: The Rt. Reverend John Melville Burgess became the first African – American consecrated as a diocesan bishop in the United States and have authority over both Caucasian and African – American Congregations.

1973: of is elected Presiding Bishop for 12-year term.

1974: The first eleven women are ordained to priesthood in an “irregular” service in Philadelphia.

1976: General Convention approves the ordination of women, and "regularizes" 1974-75 ordinations. First reading on new Prayer Book.

1976: Dr. Charles Radford Lawrence II became the first African – American to serve as President of the House of Deputies (he is only the third lay person to serve in this position.

1977: Pauli Murray (Anna Pauline Murray) became the first African – American female priest

1979: Second reading approves new (present) Book of Common Prayer.

1982: A new Hymnal is approved.

1985: Edmond Browning of Hawaii is elected Presiding Bishop for a 12-year term.

1989: Barbara Harris is consecrated the first woman bishop in the Anglican Communion.

1995: $2.2-million embezzlement by the church's treasurer, Ellen Cooke, is uncovered. She is subsequently imprisoned.

1997: of Chicago is elected Presiding Bishop for a 9-year term.

2000: General Convention approves "Called to Common Mission," a revised version of the Lutheran Concordat, establishing full communion between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Episcopal Church, effective January 1, 2001.

2003: General Convention approves the Diocese of New Hampshire's election of the Rev. Canon Gene Robinson, an openly gay priest in a long-term committed relationship, as Bishop Coadjutor.

2006: Katharine Jefferts Schori of Nevada is elected the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church for a 9-year term. She is the first and only woman to be a churchwide leader in the Anglican Communion.

2009: General Convention charges the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to develop theological and liturgical resources for same-sex blessings and report back to the General Convention in 2012.

2011: The Episcopal Church inaugurates a full-communion relationship with the Northern and Southern provinces of the Moravian Church in North America.

2012: The Episcopal Church approves the trial use of an official liturgy to bless same-sex couples and their unions, called "The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant."

2015: The Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry was installed as the 27th Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church on November 1, 2015.

2017: The Rt. Reverend Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows becomes the first African- American female to be consecrated diocesan bishop. She serves in the Diocese of Indianapolis.

2018: The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry 27th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church became the first American Bishop to deliver a sermon at a British Royal Wedding of Prince Harry Windsor and Meghan Markel.

2018: The Union of Black Episcopalians celebrates its 50th Anniversary in Nassau, Bahamas