Early Republic era Episcopal Church (United States)

trinity church in swedesboro, new jersey. serving church of sweden congregation, became episcopal church in 1786, when building completed.

when clergy of connecticut elected samuel seabury bishop in 1783, sought consecration in england. oath of supremacy prevented seabury s consecration in england, went scotland; non-juring scottish bishops there consecrated him in aberdeen on november 14, 1784, making him, in words of scholar arthur carl piepkorn, first anglican bishop appointed minister outside british isles . on august 3, 1785, first ordinations on american soil took place @ christ church in middletown, connecticut.

by 1786, church had succeeded in translating episcopacy america , in revising book of common prayer reflect american political realities. later, through efforts of bishop philander chase (1775–1852) of ohio, americans sought material assistance england purpose of training episcopal clergy. development of protestant episcopal church provides example of how americans in republic maintained important cultural ties england.

in 1787, 2 priests – william white of pennsylvania , samuel provoost of new york – consecrated bishops archbishop of canterbury, archbishop of york, , bishop of bath , wells, legal obstacles having been removed passage through parliament of consecration of bishops abroad act 1786. there 2 branches of apostolic succession american bishops: through non-juring bishops of scotland consecrated samuel seabury , through english church consecrated william white , samuel provoost. bishops in american church ordained @ least 3 bishops. 1 can trace succession of each seabury, white , provoost. (see succession of bishops of episcopal church.)

in 1789, representative clergy 9 dioceses met in philadelphia ratify church s initial constitution. episcopal church formally separated church of england in 1789 clergy not required accept supremacy of british monarch. revised version of book of common prayer written new church same year. fourth bishop of episcopal church james madison, first bishop of virginia. madison consecrated in 1790 archbishop of canterbury , 2 other church of england bishops. third american bishop consecrated within english line of succession occurred because of continuing unease within church of england on seabury s nonjuring scottish orders. episcopal church became first anglican province outside british isles.

on 17 september 1792, @ triennial general convention (synod) of episcopal church @ trinity church on wall street, in new york city, thomas john claggett elected first bishop of maryland. first bishop of episcopal church ordained , consecrated in america , fifth bishop consecrated episcopal church in united states.