What is the Reformed Episcopal Church?

In the mid 1800’s, the thoughtless modernism and centralization of power that have spoiled so much of American life began to have their effect on America’s churches, including the Episcopal Church. Old freedoms in Christ began to disappear before a wave of uncharitable bureaucracy.

What were the faithful in Christ to do? The faith was good, but the human institution was in error. Following the example of the reformers, a number of Episcopalians led by Bishop David Cummins founded the Reformed Episcopal Church in 1873. Like those faithful reformers in the Reformation period, they did not want to sow discord or hatred against the former church, but desired to get on with the business of evangelism and following Christ as His Body. Rather than getting bogged down in endless church politics, they chose to create a Church that would again fully embrace the faith once delivered by Jesus Christ and His apostles.

Ironically, the descendants of many faithful Episcopalians who chose to stay in the 1870’s have been literally swept out of the former church by the turmoil of the last four decades. Many of these Episcopalians have sought to preserve their heritage by forming sister churches in what is called “the Continuing Church.” The Reformed Episcopal Church is not considered a “Continuing Church” because it was not formed over any current issues. The original cause of the division was participation of Bishop George David Cummins at a Communion Service held in the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. Thus, the Reformed Episcopal parishes have always offered “open communion.” Any person who is a member of another branch of Christ’s Church is welcome to take Holy Communion. We believe this is right, and most importantly, Biblical.

For the last 135 years the Reformed Episcopal Church has remained faithful to the inerrant Word of God, powerfully proclaiming the unchanging Gospel of Jesus Christ and worshipping Him in Spirit and in Truth using the Biblical and time-honored Book of Common Prayer. Along with the ancient creeds, we hold to the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion as our guidelines for what we believe as Christians in the Anglican Church.