The Anglican Church in America
The Anglican Church in America (ACA) is a branch of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church instituted by Jesus Christ. The word 'Anglican' refers to our spiritual heritage and roots in the Church of England.
The ACA is the American Province of the Traditional Anglican Communion. "Anglican" simply means "English" in Latin. Our branch of the Catholic Church is as old as the Roman Catholic branch and nearly as old as the eastern catholic, or Orthodox branch of the universal Church. Legend suggests that Joseph of Arimathea brought the catholic faith to England and that Aristobulus was consecrated the first Anglican bishop by Saint Paul before St. Peter reached Rome. Historic documents list three Anglican bishops as in attendance at the Council of Nicea in 325.
In 596 the Bishop of Rome, Gregory the Great, saw fair-haired, blue-eyed slaves on display in a Roman market. He asked where they were from, and when he was told about the British Isles, he instructed St. Augustine of Canterbury to travel to England to bring the Christian Faith. Imagine the surprise of St. Augustine when he arrived to discover the Anglican Church firmly established with cathedrals, monasteries, parish churches, and a valid apostolic succession of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons.
Our jurisdiction was formed in 1977 by Anglican bishops, clergy, and faithful to preserve traditional Anglo-Catholic doctrine and forms of worship in the face of rampant changes in liturgy, morality, and Order, by those which threatened the historic Apostolic Succession.
Today the Traditional Anglican Communion has dioceses and parishes in Canada, the United States, England, Ireland, Zambia, South Africa, India, the Torres Strait and Australia. By preserving the faith once delivered to our fathers, the jurisdiction has ensured the continuation of the Anglican expression of the Catholic Faith.
Sadly, many churches no longer hold fast to the faith of their fathers and mothers. Some even criticize traditional Anglicans for remaining apart to maintain the faith and the Apostolic Succession. To the critics we say, "We believe what you used to believe. We worship the way you used to worship. If you were right then, we are right now."
Check out the ACA National website...
We are classical Anglicans. What does that mean? It means more than simply being stuck in the past, it means preserving something vitally important for the future.
Check out our Diocesan website...
The Diocese of the West is a body of Anglo-Catholic parishes in the Western United States. Our mission is to spread the Christian Gospel through classic worship, fellowship, family values and works of charity.