Reformed Episcopal Church

Reformed Episcopal Church

826 2nd Ave
Blue Bell, PA 19422-1257
United States

Attesting Officer
The Rev. Canon James T. Payne
Archdeacon


Media Contact
Rt. Rev. Royal U. Grote, Jr.

40.168607, -75.290175


The Reformed Episcopal Church was founded December 2, 1873 in New York City by Bishop George David Cummins, an assistant bishop in the Protestant Episcopal Church from 1866 until his departure to found the new jurisdiction. Cummins and other evangelical Episcopalians were concerned about the exclusiveness propagated by what they perceived to be an excessive ritualism sweeping the church. Throughout the late 1860's evangelicals and ritualists clashed over ceremonies, vestments, open or closed communion, the Articles of Religion, interpretation of the meaning of the sacraments, and the understanding of Apostolic Succession.
In October, 1873, other bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church publically attacked Cummins in major newspapers for his participation in an ecumenical communion service sponsored by the Evangelical Alliance. Cummins resigned from the Episcopal Church and drafted a call to organize a new Episcopal Church for the "purpose of restoring the old paths of their fathers." On December 2, 1873, a Declaration of Principle which expressed the evangelical understanding of the Articles of Religion was adopted. Dr. Charles Edward Cheney of Chicago was elected bishop to serve with Bishop Cummins. The Second General Council, meeting in May, 1874 in New York City, approved a Constitution and Canons and adopted the 1785 Proposed Book of Common Prayer for use in the New Church. Other notable early bishops (1876) included Rufus Nicholson, Edward Cridge, of Victoria, B.C., and Samuel Fallows through whom the episcopate of the church was perpetuated.
In recent years the Reformed Episcopal Church has revised the Book of Common Prayer to conform to the 1662 and 1928 Prayer Books. The Church continues to embrace the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, and has affirmed the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral of 1886-1888.
From 1993 until 2003 the Reformed Episcopal Church was in dialogue with the Episcopal Church U.S.A. at which time it was discontinued.
The Reformed Episcopal Church subsequently became a member of the Common Cause Partnership, an association of traditional Anglicans, becoming a founding sub-jurisdiction of the Anglican Church in North America officially formed from that body in Ft. Worth, Texas in June, 2009.
The Reformed Episcopal Church presently consists of six geographic dioceses and one domestic missionary diocese in the United States and Canada. Active missionary work continues in several countries including Germany and Cuba. Previous missionary jurisdictions in India and Liberia have been granted autonomy.
Seminaries operated by the church are located in Philadelphia, PA, Houston, TX, and Summerville, SC.
The Reformed Episcopal Church is a member of the National Association of Evangelicals and the Anglican Church in North America.


Full Communicants Average Attendance Other Members Total Inclusive Members Total Churches Membership Calculation Method
2009
9,342
0
5,111
15,573
149
2008
9,342
0
5,111
15,573
149
2003
8,631
8,500
2,650
11,281
142
1998
6,400
0
0
6,400
125
1995
6,084
0
0
6,084
102
1990
5,882
0
683
6,565
83
1988
6,274
0
0
6,274
78
1987
6,066
0
0
6,066
94
1986
6,000
0
0
6,000
80
1980
0
0
0
6,200
70
1977
0
0
0
6,211
68
1972
0
0
0
6,532
64
1966
0
0
0
7,085
75
1963
0
0
0
7,007
64
1962
0
0
0
7,007
66
1960
0
0
0
7,652
64
1957
0
0
0
8,928
70
1955
0
0
0
8,015
74
1954
0
0
0
8,579
68
1953
0
0
0
8,567
69
1952
0
0
0
8,571
67
1951
0
0
0
8,733
31
1947
8,928
0
0
8,928
71
1944
8,939
0
0
8,939
67
1942
8,625
0
14
8,639
68
Serving Churches Retired Other Service to the Church Total Clergy
2009
168
28
25
221
2008
168
28
25
221
2003
185
18
8
211
1998
150
30
5
185
1995
125
0
0
160
1990
88
0
0
147
1988
66
0
0
122
1987
80
0
0
138
1986
82
0
0
133
1980
61
0
0
101
1977
0
0
0
91
1972
57
0
0
90
1966
51
0
0
90
1963
54
0
0
81
1962
70
0
0
82
1960
54
0
0
76
1957
62
0
0
75
1955
54
0
0
73
1954
52
0
0
75
1953
62
0
0
80
1952
58
0
0
74
1951
56
0
0
69
1947
0
0
0
66
1944
0
0
0
66
1942
0
0
0
66
Total Schools Staff Pupils Total Individuals
1990
72
0
0
2,938
1988
73
0
0
3,877
1987
67
0
0
3,163
1963
62
646
4,693
5,339
1962
66
587
4,693
5,280
1960
64
612
4,867
5,479
1957
70
567
4,980
5,547
1955
74
515
5,410
5,925
1954
68
647
5,547
6,194
1953
69
677
4,973
5,650
1952
67
210
4,570
4,780
1951
51
608
4,989
5,597
1948
66
559
4,675
5,234
1921
79
0
9,005
9,005
1919
60
0
7,750
7,750
1916
72
878
8,603
9,481
Total Benevolences Total Financials Total Giving Local Expenses Method
1988
$1,359,752
$7,562,728
$6,202,976
1987
$1,374,234
$7,577,210
$6,202,976
1921
$0
$460,283
$0
1919
$0
$132,079
$0
1917
$0
$180,880
$0