History and FAQs about our Church
St. Peter's Anglican Church
St. Peter's Anglican Church was formed in 1995 as a mission of the Anglican Church in America's Diocese of the Eastern United States. The first Vicar was the Rev'd Dr James Lipsey, who continued in this position until his health failed in 2005.
On July 1, 2005, Fr Gary A. Marshall was appointed Vicar of St. Peter's by the Right Rev'd Louis Campese, Bishop of the Diocese of the Eastern United States. During that time, the mission relocated from its previous worship site in Canton to the historic "Frog Level" district in Waynesville. We were blessed to be provided a site for worship in a building designated as a "National Historic Landmark," located at 313 Depot Street on the banks of Richland Creek. Once renovations to the building were completed, the dedication service was held on April 30, 2006.
On June 1, 2009, following Fr Marshall's retirement, Fr Samuel Edwards became the third Vicar of Saint Peter's.
The Depot Street location was sold in November of 2009 and the congregation held its final service there on November 22. The current worship site is at 1608 Sulphur Springs Road in Waynesville, conveniently located near exit 100 (Hazlewood Avenue/ Eagle's Nest Road) from the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway (US 74).
In January 2011 St Peter's moved from the Anglican Church in America to the Anglican Province of America and became part of the Diocese of Appalacia under the guidence of the Dean of Appalacia, The Very Rev. John Lathrop. At that time we came under the care of All Saints Anglican Church in Mills River and its Rector, Rev. William A. S. Martin. From January 2011 to September 2011 Fr. Paul Blankinship was the Supply Priest for St. Peter's. Beginning in October 2011 Fr. Martin took over from Fr. Paul and services were moved to the afternoons at 2:00 until a time when St. Peter's can once more have their own vicar.
Who are you?
We are a body of Christian believers belonging to a Mission Church in the Diocese of the Eastern United States of the Anglican Province of America. Our congregation began in 1995.
What is an “Anglican”?
An Anglican is a Reformed Catholic Christian – one who holds to the evangelical faith and catholic order of the Church as received through the Church of England.
So you are Evangelicals?
Yes, in the full and literal sense of that word: We proclaim the whole Gospel (including the parts that make us uncomfortable) as the good news of God’s grace for all people who need his mercy made available through Jesus Christ – that is, all of us.
And you are Catholics, too?
Yes, in the ancient, full and literal sense of that word: We stand for the whole faith, which is for all people in all times and places and cultures, and we seek the healing of the breaches between Christian believers so that the visible unity for which the Lord Jesus prays (see John 17) may become a present reality.
Are you Episcopalians?
No, but we are episcopalians: That is, we are under the care of a bishop. However, we are not to be confused with The Episcopal Church, which is a different denomination.
What is a “mission church”?
It is a non-self-supporting congregation within a diocese under the pastoral care of a priest. It is governed by a Steering Committee, also sometimes called a Vestry.
So, what is a “diocese”?
A diocese is a regional group of local churches under the pastoral care of a bishop. It is governed by a Synod made up of the bishop, clergy and lay representatives elected from the congregations.
.
What do you believe ...
… about God?
We believe that God – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – who made everything, and to whom it all belongs, calls everyone everywhere to share fully in his life as forgiven, redeemed, restored, and sanctified people. We believe that he has made this possible by becoming man in Jesus Christ, who is the sole way of entry into that life and that Jesus gives his Holy Spirit to those who believe in him and are baptized so that, sharing his life, they may become holy as he is holy.
… about the Bible?
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God written, that it contains all things necessary to salvation, that it is the standard against which all teaching is measured, that it is consistent within itself and must be so interpreted, and that it testifies to the role and identity of Jesus Christ in both Testaments.
… about the Church?
We believe that the Church is the steward of the Bible, not its master. It is the mystical body of Christ and the family of God, in which the Word is rightly preached and the Sacraments are rightly administered. It is both a school for saints and a hospital for sinners. We believe that there is and can be only one Church, and that co-operating in good-faith efforts to bring about her visible unity is a solemn Christian obligation.
… about the Sacraments?
We believe that God has chosen to act through things we can see, feel, taste, touch, and smell to bring about results that can transform us in the invisible cores of our lives. We believe that if we are faithful and penitent he surely and certainly acts through them to cleanse, heal, and feed us spiritually. Of course, God doesn’t need the Sacraments, but we do. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the principal, though not the only, Sacraments
… about marriage?
We believe that by God’s express design marriage is to be a lifelong sacramental union of one man and one woman for the single three-fold purpose of (a) mutual fellowship, (b) the procreation and nurture of children (if God wills it), and (c) the safeguarding and benefit of society. We believe that both married and single persons are called to chastity, which means exclusive sexual fidelity to one’s spouse if they are married and exclusive sexual fidelity to God (abstinence) if they are single.
… about life issues?
This congregation, and indeed the entire Traditional Anglican Communion, is a pro-life Church. We believe that human life, from the moment of conception until natural death, is a gift of God and can justly be taken only by God or by those agencies and in those circumstances that are agreeable to his Word. We therefore encourage and expect all our members to use all lawful means at their disposal, including their ballot, to promote a culture of life.
Now, about your Worship…
Why do you kneel?
Because God gave us bodies, as well as souls, and said it was very good. We use our bodies to worship him because doing so gives an outward form to our inward reverence. And it works the other way, too: Our outward posture helps to form our inward attitude.
Our public worship is a dramatic presentation. We see the congregation not as an audience, but as a part of the cast, and the Prayer Book liturgy as the script. The play has some “stage directions” that are easy for anyone to learn: If we are physically able, we stand for praise and to show respect, we sit for instruction, and we kneel for prayer – and when in doubt, we do as everyone else does.
Why do you use that old Prayer Book?
Because it still works. The classic Anglican common prayer tradition is unparalleled in its combination of sound biblical teaching, intimate address to God, and profound reverence.
May I receive Communion?
The discipline of our Church requires that in order to receive this sacrament, you (1) must have been baptized with water in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, (2) must have been confirmed by a bishop in the succession of the apostles, or be ready and willing to be confirmed, and (3) must repent of your sins, be in love and charity with your neighbors, and intend to lead a new life, in keeping with God’s design set forth in his commandments.
When a person receives Holy Communion, he is making a public statement that all of the above conditions are present. In other words, when you kneel before God’s Altar, you are confessing before God and His Church that you are in agreement with God’s way of looking at things, which is what the Church exists to teach. In order to be able to do that honestly, you have to know what it is that the Church teaches.
What do you expect of your people?
We expect every member ...
- ... to attend worship on every Sunday and Major Holy Day and, if admitted to Communion, to receive it at least three times a year, and at all times after due preparation;
- ... to seek to grow spiritually through daily prayer, study of God’s Word in Holy Scripture, and service to others as to the Lord;
- ... to keep the days of fasting and abstinence prescribed in the Prayer Book in ways suited to their state in life;
- ... whether married or not, to keep God’s law of chastity, (which means exclusive sexual fidelity to one's lawful spouse if married and abstention from sexual intercourse if unmarried); and
- ... to contribute to the support of the work of God in this congregation, in token that all we have is given to us by God in trust. The minimum biblical standard is the tithe (10%).
If I want to become a member, what do I need to do?
- If you are already baptized with water “in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” you may ask to be enrolled as a baptized member of the Parish. If you have been confirmed by a Bishop of this Province or a Bishop recognized by this Province, you will also be enrolled as a communicant member.
- If you have not been baptized or confirmed, speak to one of the clergy about arranging a course of instruction in basic Christian doctrine and practice. When the priest determines that you are ready, you will be presented for baptism (if needed) and confirmation and enrolled as a member of the Church in this Parish.
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ our Lord.
- 2 Peter 1:2
|
