Anglican Church of Canada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anglican Church of CanadaÉglise anglicane du Canada |
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Nisi Dominus (incipit of Psalm 127)
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| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Anglican |
| Scripture | Holy Bible |
| Theology | Anglican doctrine |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Primate | Linda Nicholls |
| Parishes | 1,498 |
| Associations | Anglican Communion |
| Full Communion | Church of South India Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada Mar Thoma Syrian Church Moravian Church Northern Province |
| Region | Canada |
| Liturgy | 1962 Book of Common Prayer, Book of Alternative Services |
| Headquarters | 80 Hayden Street Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Branched from | Church of England |
| Separations | Anglican Church in North America (2009) Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter (2012) |
| Members | 294,931 on parish rolls (2022) |
The Anglican Church of Canada (ACC or ACoC) is a major Christian church in Canada. It is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Its official French name is l'Église anglicane du Canada. In 2022, the church had about 295,000 members in 1,978 groups, organized into 1,498 local churches. The 2021 Canadian census showed that over 1.1 million Canadians identified as Anglican. This makes it the third-largest church in Canada, after the Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada.
Like other Anglican churches, the Anglican Church of Canada uses its own version of the Book of Common Prayer from 1962 for its worship services. An updated worship book, the Book of Alternative Services, was created in 1985. This newer book is now the most commonly used one in the church.
In Canada, the title "Defender of the Faith" for the Canadian monarch does not officially refer to the Anglican Church. However, two of Canada's three special "Chapels Royal" are Anglican chapels.
Contents
What are the Official Names of the Church?
Before 1955, the Anglican Church of Canada was known as the "Church of England in the Dominion of Canada." In 1977, the church's main governing body, the General Synod, chose l'Église episcopale du Canada as its French name. This was changed in 1989 to the current name, l'Église anglicane du Canada. However, the older French name is still sometimes used.
It can be a bit confusing because the Anglican Church of Canada is a "province" (a large region) within the global Anglican Communion. But within Canada, the church is divided into four smaller "ecclesiastical provinces." This is different from Canada's ten civil provinces and three territories.
Recently, some smaller groups have tried to use similar names. In 2005, the Canadian government ruled that a group could not use "Anglican Communion in Canada." This was because the term "Anglican Communion" in Canada is linked only to the Anglican Church of Canada, which is the official Canadian part of that international group.
How Did the Anglican Church Start in Canada?
Early Days in British North America
The Anglican Church of Canada remembers John Cabot's arrival in Newfoundland in 1497. The first Church of England service in Canada was held around September 3, 1578, in Frobisher Bay. It was led by a chaplain named Robert Wolfall during a voyage to the Arctic.
The Church of England grew in three main ways in early Canada:
- Ship officers and government officials would read services from the Book of Common Prayer when no clergy were around.
- The English government directly appointed and paid clergy for ships and settlements.
- Private companies also hired clergy.
The first known resident Church of England priest in Canada was Erasmus Stourton. He arrived in Ferryland, Newfoundland, in 1612. The Hudson's Bay Company also sent its first chaplain in 1683. If no chaplain was present, company officers were told to read prayers from the Book of Common Prayer on Sundays.
Organizations like the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge (SPCK) and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG) were formed in England. They sent money and missionaries to establish the English Church in Canada. They also worked to convert First Nations people. This direct support continued until the 1940s.
The first Anglican church building in Canada was a small chapel at St. John's Fort in Newfoundland, built before 1698. The Cathedral of St John the Baptist in St. John's is the oldest Anglican parish in Canada, founded in 1699.
The first Anglican services in Nova Scotia began in 1710 in Annapolis Royal. The oldest Anglican church building still standing in Canada is St Paul's Church in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Its foundation stone was laid in 1750. St. Paul's became the first Anglican cathedral in North America when Charles Inglis became bishop in 1787.
After the American Revolution
Many United Empire Loyalists, who were loyal to Britain, moved to Canada after the American Revolution. A higher percentage of them were Anglican compared to the general population of the Thirteen Colonies. The Anglican Church played a big role in the governments of the British North American colonies.
Charles Inglis, a former priest from New York, became the first bishop of the Diocese of Nova Scotia in 1787. He was the first Church of England bishop outside the United Kingdom. The Anglican Church of Canada remembers him on August 12.
After the conquest of Quebec and the American Revolution, many Anglicans wanted the Church of England to be the official church in the Canadian colonies. This happened in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. In Upper Canada, Bishop John Strachan was a strong supporter of the Church of England.
However, other Protestant groups, like the Methodists, argued against this. After the Upper Canada Rebellion in the 1830s, the idea of having an official church became less popular. The church was no longer the official state church in Nova Scotia by 1850 and in Upper Canada by 1854. By the time Canada became a country in 1867, the Church of England was no longer the official state church anywhere in British North America.
Becoming Independent and Working Together
Until the 1830s, the Anglican church in Canada was closely tied to the Church of England in England. Bishops were appointed, and priests were sent from England, and the British Parliament provided funding. In the 1850s, the first Canadian church meetings (synods) were set up, giving the Canadian church some self-governance.
The first national meeting, the General Synod for all of Canada, was held in 1893. This synod declared that the Church of England in Canada was "in full communion" with the Church of England worldwide. Robert Machray was chosen as the first leader (Primate) of the Canadian church.
Growth and Challenges
As Canada grew after 1867, so did the Anglican Church. New ecclesiastical provinces (large church regions) were created, such as Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land in 1875. Many new dioceses (smaller church regions) were formed as more immigrants arrived from England, Scotland, and Ireland.
During this time, the Anglican Church took on administrative roles in remote areas. It worked with the government to run residential schools for indigenous peoples. These schools removed children from their homes, aiming to make them adopt European culture and language. This decision later caused much pain and regret for the church.
However, Anglican missionaries also supported First Nations rights and land claims. For example, Henry Budd, one of the first First Nations students educated by the church, became the first First Nations priest in 1850. The Anglican Church of Canada remembers Henry Budd on April 2.
The church also faced internal disagreements about worship styles. This led to different theological schools and sometimes even groups breaking away, like the Reformed Episcopal Church in 1874.
Mission Work Overseas
In 1888, the church started missionary work in Central Japan. This led to the creation of the Diocese of Chubu there. In 1902, the Missionary Society of the Church of England in Canada (MSCC) was formed to support missions both in Canada and other countries.
The Twentieth Century and Beyond
In the early 20th century, the Anglican Church of Canada continued its traditional role. However, ideas from other Protestant groups and the Church of England influenced it. This led to the creation of the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund in 1958, which helps people around the world.
By the mid-20th century, there was pressure to update the church. The name was changed to the "Anglican Church of Canada" in 1955. A major update to the Book of Common Prayer happened in 1962. The church also explored joining with the United Church of Canada.
Changes sped up in the late 1960s as many people started leaving mainstream churches. In 1967, the Anglican Church of Canada agreed to allow divorced people to remarry in their churches. The church also worked to build stronger relationships with other Christian churches. It achieved full communion (meaning they share sacraments and ministries) with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada as the century ended.
New worship materials were introduced, leading to the Book of Alternative Services in 1985. The church also decided to allow women to become priests in 1975 and later bishops. These changes, along with efforts to include more diverse people, have caused some disagreements within the church.
The church has seen a significant decline in members. From 1961 to 2001, over half of its members left. This decline has continued into the 21st century.
The Twenty-First Century: New Challenges
In the 21st century, the Anglican Communion has faced disagreements, especially over issues like marriage for all people. This has led to some conservative churches in Canada separating from or disagreeing with the Anglican Church of Canada. Groups like the Anglican Network in Canada have formed.
How is the Church Organized?
Anglican Christians worldwide are connected by shared ways of worship, like the Book of Common Prayer, which expresses their beliefs. Other important texts, like the Thirty-Nine Articles, also provide a common theological tradition. Globally, the Archbishop of Canterbury and meetings like the Lambeth Conferences help unite the Anglican Communion. These international bodies offer guidance but do not have legal authority over individual churches.
In Canada, Anglican bishops share some of their authority with three main groups:
- The General Synod (national)
- The Provincial Synods (four regional groups)
- The Diocesan Synods (29 local groups)
The national church in Canada has a main leader, called the Primate, and a Synod (a governing council).
Houses of Bishops
Bishops in the Anglican Church promise to uphold the church's teachings and practices. They work together as a "House of Bishops." There is a national House of Bishops that meets regularly, as well as provincial houses of bishops.
The Primate
The Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada is the church's national leader. They are chosen by the General Synod from among all the bishops. The Primate holds the rank of archbishop. Unlike some other Anglican leaders, the Canadian Primate does not have a fixed home diocese but works from the national headquarters in Toronto.
Past Primates have played important roles in public life. For example, Archbishop Ted Scott was involved in international efforts to end apartheid in South Africa. His successor, Michael Peers, apologized on behalf of the church for its role in the Indian Residential Schools.
There have been thirteen Primates in the church's history. The current Primate is Linda Nicholls, who was elected in 2019. She is the first woman to lead the Anglican Church of Canada.
The General Synod
The main governing body of the church is the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada. It meets every three years and includes lay people (church members who are not clergy), clergy (priests and deacons), and bishops from each of the 29 dioceses.
The General Synod has the power to define the church's beliefs, rules, and policies. Between General Synods, a group called the Council of General Synod (COGS) manages the church's daily affairs.
Provinces, Dioceses, and Parishes
The Anglican Church of Canada is divided into four large regions called ecclesiastical provinces:
- British Columbia and the Yukon
- Canada (covering the Atlantic provinces and Quebec)
- Ontario
- Rupert's Land (covering the prairie provinces, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and parts of Ontario)
Within these provinces are 29 dioceses. Each province has its own archbishop, called the Metropolitan. Each diocese has a bishop.
Like other Anglican churches, each diocese is divided into smaller geographical areas called parishes. Local authority in a parish is shared between the priest and the parish council.
Both dioceses and provinces hold their own meetings (synods), usually once a year. These meetings include clergy and lay delegates elected by local churches.
Between 1995 and 1997, over 500 Anglican parishes closed. The Anglican Church of Canada has seen a significant drop in members, with a reduction of about 10% annually according to its own records.
How Does the Church Work with Other Churches?
The Anglican Church of Canada is a member of the World Council of Churches. Archbishop Ted Scott was even a president of this group. The ACC has also been active in the Canadian Council of Churches since 1944.
In 2001, the ACC entered into full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC). This means their members can share sacraments and their clergy can serve in each other's churches. In 2019, this full communion was extended to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In 2023, full communion was also extended to the Northern Province of the Moravian Church in North America.
Through the wider Anglican Communion, the ACC is also in full communion with the Mar Thoma Syrian Church and the Church of South India.
Unlike some other Christian traditions, all baptized Christians are welcome to receive Holy Communion in Canadian Anglican churches. This is called "open communion."
What are the Church's Worship Books?
The Anglican Church of Canada has produced its own official versions of the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) in 1918 and 1962. These books are based on the 1662 English prayer book. The 1962 Canadian prayer book is still used regularly and has been translated into several languages, including French.
In 1985, the Book of Alternative Services (BAS) was released. It was meant to be used alongside the 1962 prayer book but has largely replaced it in practice. The BAS includes elements from Lutheran, Church of England, and Roman Catholic worship books. While popular, some people still prefer the older BCP, leading to some discussion within the church. There are also calls to update the Book of Alternative Services.
Singing hymns is an important part of Anglican worship. The ACC has published four authorized hymnals since 1908. The most recent one, Common Praise, was published in 1998.
What are the Church's Views on Social Issues?
The Anglican Church of Canada often reflects the social and cultural changes happening in Canada. For much of its history, it was seen as a more traditional church. However, after World War II, as Canada changed, so did the attitudes of church members.
Women's Ordination and Remarriage
In recent years, the ACC has been a progressive leader within the Anglican Communion. In the 1970s, the Primate, Ted Scott, supported allowing women to become priests. The ACC ordained its first woman priest in 1976 and its first woman bishop in 1993. This change, along with allowing divorced people to remarry, caused some tension with more conservative members.
Inclusion of Diverse People and Marriage for All
In 2002, the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster (in Vancouver) voted to allow the blessing of same-sex unions. Since then, ten other dioceses and one grouping of churches have followed this decision.
In 2016, a proposal to allow marriage for all people, including same-sex couples, passed in the General Synod. However, it did not pass a second vote in 2019 because it did not get enough support from the House of Bishops. Despite this, many dioceses continued to perform such marriages. In 2019, the General Synod approved a resolution that allows each provincial synod and diocese to choose whether to bless or perform same-sex marriages.
For example, the Diocese of Toronto has allowed churches to perform same-sex marriages since late 2016. In 2016, the Diocese also elected its first openly gay and partnered bishop.
Residential Schools and Reconciliation
During the 19th century, the Canadian government asked the Anglican Church of Canada and Roman Catholic groups to run Indian residential schools. These schools were meant to assimilate Indigenous children into European culture. In the 1980s, former students brought lawsuits against the church and government for abuse and cultural harm at these schools.
The church offered an apology to Indigenous people for its role in the residential school system. The Primate, Michael Peers, played a major role in reaching a settlement for these claims.
In 2007, the church appointed Mark MacDonald, an Indigenous American bishop, as the National Indigenous Bishop. This role provides pastoral care for all Indigenous members of the Anglican Church of Canada. In 2017, Melanie Delva was appointed to focus on reconciliation efforts, responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's calls to action.
Important Churches and Cathedrals
Cathedrals
The oldest Anglican cathedral in Canada and North America is St. Paul's Church in Halifax. It became Canada's first cathedral in 1787.
The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Quebec City is the oldest Anglican cathedral in Canada that still serves as a cathedral. It was built between 1800 and 1804.
Most Anglican cathedrals in Canada are modest parish churches. Only a few, like those in Toronto, Montreal, Kingston, Halifax, St. John's, and Victoria, are large or grand. Sometimes, larger Roman Catholic or United churches are used for big Anglican services because most Anglican cathedrals have limited seating.
The Cathedral Church of All Saints in Halifax is Canada's largest Anglican Cathedral. It opened in 1910. In 1912, memorial services for some victims of the Titanic were held there.
Christ Church Cathedral in Ottawa is often used for important national events, like state funerals for non-Catholic Canadians. Christ's Church Cathedral in Hamilton is the oldest cathedral in Upper Canada, with its current building dating back to 1842. Christ Church Cathedral in Montreal is unique because it has a shopping mall and a Metro station underneath it.
Notable Parishes
- The Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Toronto was the home church of famous organist and composer Healey Willan.
- St. Thomas's, Huron Street in Toronto is known for its traditional Anglo-Catholic worship style and music program.
- St Anne's, Toronto is a popular tourist spot. It is a smaller version of Saint Sophia in Istanbul and was decorated in the 1920s by famous Canadian artists.
- His Majesty's Royal Chapel of the Mohawks in Brantford, Ontario, and Christ Church, His Majesty's Chapel Royal of the Mohawks, near Deseronto, Ontario, are two of only three special "Chapels Royal" in Canada.
- St Bartholomew's in Ottawa, near Rideau Hall, has been the place of worship for Canada's Governors General since 1866.
- In April 2007, St. George's Church (Georgetown, Ontario) became the first church in Canada to join the "Messy Church" initiative. This program focuses on community, creativity, and celebration, offering informal services with crafts, activities, songs, and a meal.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia Anglicana de Canadá para niños
