The Episcopal Church


The Episcopal Church in the United States has its roots in the Church of England and the split occurred after the American Revolutionary War. The War caused a divide among those loyal to the British monarchy and those who wished for independence. Anglican clergy were also affected by this divide. After the war ended in 1783, many loyalists, those who remained loyal to the British monarchy, fled to Great Britain, various British territories, and Canada. However, those that remained in the United States lost their connection to the Church of England and were challenged with reorganizing and restructuring what would become the Episcopal Church. 

Due to the Oath of Supremacy, an oath declaring the British monarch the supreme governor of the Church of England, no one from the Episcopal Church could be consecrated in England. So Samuel Seabury traveled to Scotland where he was consecrated the first bishop of the Episcopal Church in 1784. The first ordination to take place on American soil happened just shy of a year later. In 1789 the Church constitution was officially ratified in Philadelphia and the Episcopal Church was officially separated from the Church of England. The Episcopal Diocese of Ohio was established in 1818 and was the first Episcopal Diocese created outside of the original 13 colonies. In 1875 The Episcopal Diocese of Ohio split, almost perfectly in half across the middle of the state, the Northern portion favoring evangelical expression and the Southern portion favoring a more Anglo-catholic expression. 

The Episcopal Church in the United States offers a rich history into how a Church grows and evolves over time. However there are particular stances that the Episcopal Church are known for regarding issues around race, gender, and sexuality. The history of St. John's Episcopal Church in Ohio City exemplifies these stances, which include racial and social justice, gender equality, and LGBTQPIA+ inclusion. As we say here in the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, "God loves you. No exceptions." And yes, we really mean it! 

To learn more about the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, visit:

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