What Is The Episcopal Church?

The Episcopal Church forms part of the international Anglican Communion and replaces the Church of England in those regions of the world that are not part of the British Commonwealth. The Episcopal Church is based in the United States, but is also present throughout much of Latin America. Episcopalians trace their roots back to the American Revolution of 1775, when clergy in the rebellious colonies refused to offer their pledge of allegiance to the British Monarchy.

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With an estimated 2.2 million members, the Episcopal Church is not the largest religious group in the United States, but it has been traditionally one of the most powerful religious institutions. Many of America's most prominent presidents were members of the Episcopal Church, including George Bush Sr., Gerald Ford, Franklin Roosevelt and George Washington.

The Episcopal Church is often seen as a "compromise" between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, in that its ceremonies, sacraments and liturgy share many similarities with Catholicism. Episcopalians, however, tend to be among the most liberal Christians in the US and  were strong opponents of Apartheid in South Africa, battled racism, introduced the ordination of women and spoke out in favour of gay rights.