Episcopal

The Episcopal Church has it roots in the Reformation when the Church of England became independent from the Roman Catholic Church. The Church of England or Anglican Church (Anglican meaning English) then came to America with the early English settlers in 1607 and ultimately took on the name Episcopal Church. They are Protestant in their beliefs but their church organization is similar to that of the Catholic church. Their congregation is led by parish priests or rectors and the overall denomination is headed by bishops. They are a very diverse church with different beliefs on non-essentials, but they are unified world-wide by following the Book of Common Prayer, a book containing the Episcopal Church's liturgy.