"An act for establishing religious freedom" did not end the Anglican Church in Virginia - which still exists, theologically. The Act cut off England as the *legal authority* over the American Anglicans. What it did do was eliminate any legal power or authority of the English Church in this country, allowed other churches to exist and prevented any Church from exerting power in the government. The law in 1785, allowed a new Church to exist in America - the Episcopal Church - which was officially formed in 1789, and still operates under the *theological authority* of its English mother church.
My mother, who studied for the Episcopal priesthood, considers herself Anglican, and feels a close relationship with the English Church. But there is a wide divergence of opinion in the Church today, with one group forming the Anglican Church of America a few years ago. That split was caused in part by the Church allowing women to help administer the sacraments, as my mother does, and even to become priests. So, my mother, the Angican, is not part of the new Anglican Church, which considers itself true to its English roots, without modern updates. The new Church will certainly add more confusion to the terminology!
The parish records were kept by the local parish church, and Chapels of Ease. The Parish reported to the diocese. Many of the old records have been transfered to the Diocese level, since it was the responsibility of the local parish to make reports. . In South Carolina, the entire archival holding was transfered to the SC Historical Society just last year.
The Vestry, the local governing body at the Parish level, met regularly and kept records of the activities of the church. I'm sure most of the Diocese records would pertain to these meetings. If anyone explores the Diocese records, maybe they could share with this list what other records are contained in the archives.
Langdon Hagen-Long
"Donald W. Moore" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
The Anglican Church was officially disestablished in Virginia by act
of the General Assembly in 1785, "An act for establishing religious
freedom" (Hening 12:84-86).
_________________
Donald W. Moore, CG(sm)
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