Grace Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion — one of the world's largest Christian communities.
The Anglican Communion is one of the world's largest Christian communities, with tens of millions of members in more than 165 countries around the globe.
The Communion comprises 41 provinces and five extra-provincial areas, subdivided into dioceses and parishes. All provinces maintain communion with the See of Canterbury and recognize the Archbishop of Canterbury as their spiritual leader, though the Communion operates without a central governing authority.
Four Instruments of Communion guide the member provinces, which remain autonomous: the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference, the Primates' Meeting, and the Anglican Consultative Council.
The Church of England separated from Rome during King Henry VIII's reign in the 16th century. Anglican worship expanded globally beginning with Canada in 1578, spreading primarily through British missionary societies including the SPCK, USPG, and CMS. In 1783, following the American War of Independence, the parishes of Connecticut elected Samuel Seabury as their bishop — a milestone in the formation of The Episcopal Church.
In the 19th century, Samuel Ajayi Crowther became the first African Anglican bishop, ordained in Nigeria. Today, member churches share deep traditions while maintaining diversity in worship practices, and serve globally through United Nations engagement, ecumenical dialogue, and mission initiatives.
Grace Episcopal Church, as a congregation of The Episcopal Church, is proud to be part of this worldwide family of faith.