PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, in the United States of America is spiritually the direct descendant of the Church of England, and is a part of the Anglican Communion. From the Church of England the Protestant Episcopal Church inherits its faith, its liturgy and its spiritual traditions, though it is entirely independent in its own life and government. The pref ace of the American Prayer Book, officially set forth in 1789, affirms the substantial identity and continuity of the two Churches in the following words "This Church is far from intending to depart from the Church of England in any essential point of doctrine, discipline or worship; or further than local circum stances require." The Protestant Episcopal Church is therefore in full fellowship with the Anglican Communion, while at the same time it is wholly free and independent in the ordering of its life and the fulfilment of its mission in the United States. It is significant that in the year 1642 members of the English Church meeting in the Colony of Maryland, and frequently other groups in that early period, described themselves as Protestant Catholics, and this designation, if rightly interpreted in the light of history, describes well the doctrinal position of the Protestant Episcopal Church, catholic and also free, apostolic and evangelical, ortho dox and also modern in its spirit.
The first permanent establishment of the Church was at James town, Va., in 1607, although services were held earlier in various parts of the country by the clergy who as chaplains accompanied groups and parties engaged in exploration. On the Pacific coast services were held by Francis Fletcher, chaplain of Drake's ship the "Pelican." Before the end of the 17th century the English Church had become the established church of Virginia and Mary land. In New York, Trinity parish received its charter from the British Crown in 1697, with the bishop of London, Henry Comp ton, as its first rector. A few years earlier, in 1686, the Church obtained a precarious foothold in Massachusetts ; it was planted in Connecticut in 1706. The growth of the English Church in the
colonial period was due in large part to the help of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, founded through the efforts of the Rev. Thomas Bray, a missionary in Maryland. From the foundation of the Venerable Society in 1701, until the Revolution, its missionaries were primarily responsible for the vitality of the English Church in America. Through all this period however, the Church had no bishop in the American colonies. It was under the jurisdiction of the bishop of London, who naturally could do little for this far distant field. Without bishops, the Episcopal Church was in an anomalous position. Those desiring to be ordained to the ministry were compelled to make the long and perilous voyage to England. The people could not be brought to confirmation. Efforts to secure the consecration of bishops by the mother church in England were strongly opposed by the Non conf ormist churches in the colonies, especially in New England. Revolutionary Period.—The Revolution was a time of se vere trial for the Church of England in the colonies. Many of the clergy felt called upon to give up their parishes and return to England, though others, especially in the South, remained at their posts and gave their support to the American cause. Of the laity a large majority were on the side of the Revolution, and many of them were among its most active leaders. Two thirds of those whose names are signed to the Declaration of Independence were members of the Episcopal Church. William White, afterwards the first bishop of Pennsylvania, was chaplain of the Continental Congress. George Washington, himself a member of the Church, went, accompanied by both Houses of Congress, to St. Paul's chapel, still standing on Broadway and Vesey 'street, New York, for the religious service which completed the ceremonies of his inauguration as first president of the United States, and this service was conducted by Samuel Provoost, the first bishop of New York and rector of Trinity church.