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The Episcopal Church

 

The Episcopal Church in the U.S.A. has its roots in the early church in Rome – when all of Christendom was united under one authority – and traces its heritage in an unbroken line back to St. Peter, one of the Twelve Apostles and the first Bishop of Rome.  Soon after the Roman conquest of Britain in 44 A.D. Christianity arrived there by a variety of means and was already thriving when, in 597, Pope Gregory the Great sent St. Augustine of Canterbury as a missionary bishop.  Almost 1000 years later the Church of England – or “Anglican Church” -- severed its affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church (in 1534) but retained most of its ritual, traditions, and beliefs, and began to extend its influence to the farthest reaches of the British Empire.  In this fashion, it found its way to this country in the 17th century.

 

After the American Revolution, the Church in the United States distanced itself from the authority of the Church of England, but remained in harmony with it and continues to this day as a member church of the worldwide Anglican Communion.  The umbrella of the Anglican Communion is large, and under it a variety of perspectives and structures are tied together.  Key to this unity is The Book of Common Prayer.  Episcopalians are a people whose central beliefs are discerned by a process of praying together as a community.  Through a strong reliance on the Word of God as recorded in Holy Scripture, through adherence to church traditions of practice and belief, and through the application of our God-given powers of reason, we hope to discern God's will for us at this time and in this place.

 

The Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan

 

The Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan comprises 51 parishes in the upper eastern half of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.  The diocesan center is located in Saginaw.  Eastern Michigan was formed by a division of the Diocese of Michigan in 1994.  Our bishop is the Right Reverend S. Todd Ousley, Second Bishop of Eastern Michigan.  Bishop Ousley is responsible for the pastoral care and ecclesiastical authority of all parishes in the diocese, and under Episcopal Church polity, is bishop of the whole church.  The diocese is subdivided into four geographical areas, called convocations.  Christ Church is a member of the Flint River Valley Convocation, a group of ten parishes centered around the greater Flint area. 

 

Christ Church

 

Christ Church is situated in Fayette Square, an historic park in the City of Owosso, Michigan.  The land for the park was given to the city by the founders of Owosso, the Williams brothers.  Benjamin Oliver Williams' daughter convinced her father to set aside some of the land in the park for an Episcopal Church – Christ Church.  Founded by Madame Elise LeBrun in 1859, the church was built in the 13th century Gothic parochial style.  Striking examples of stained glass, wooden arches, brasswork, and the white marble High Altar and Baptismal font distinguish Christ Church's worship space.  Included on the main level are the sacristy, nursery, church offices, the Osburn Room, and the Mary Chapel.  The upper level houses Sunday School rooms, and the lower level includes the kitchen, parish hall, Outreach Ministry and Youth Group rooms.  There are restrooms on all levels.
Last modified: Friday, 12 October 2007, 11:45 AM