CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC CHURCH. A body of Christians founded by Rev. Edward Irving, in London, England, in 1835, hence often called grvingites.>> Irving was pastor of a Scotch Presbyterian Church, but, changing his views, was dismissed. He held that the gifts bestowed upon the Apostolic Church — words of wisdom and prophecy, powers of healing and miracles, discerning of spirits and speaking in divers tongues and interpretation thereof were not meant exclusively for the apostles and their immediate successors, but are given to all who have the living faith. He died soon after he ceased to be pastor of the Presbyterian Church, but his followers developed his ideas and completed the organization of the Catholic Apostolic Church, which has four classes of ministers: Apostles (the chief of all), prophets, evangelists and pastors, each comprising 12 members, when complete these 48 presiding over the 12 tribes of the general church. Each congregation has its "Angel;' or bishop, with 24 priests, six of each class of the ministry; there are also elders and deacons for temporal affairs, and a corps of sub-deacons, acolytes, singers and. doorkeepers. The service is highly
ritualistic, with "High') and celebrations, vestments, candles, incense, holy oils, etc. The Church accepts the Apostles', Nicene and Athanasian creeds, and expects soon the second coming of the Lord. The denomination was established in the United States before 1851.
The New Apostolic Church arose in Europe as the result of a difference of view as to the number of apostles who might be appointed. The original body limits it to 12; the new branch holds that a larger number may be created. The latter has in the United States 13 churches, 19 ministers and 2,020 members; the former, 11 churches, 14 ministers and 2,907 members. These figures are those of the cen sus of 1906. Consult Life of Edward Irving (of which there are several) and E. Miller's (History and Doctrines of Irvingism' (London, Eng., 1878).