Who We Are

St. Thomas is a parish of the Episcopal Church, part of a family of churches that trace their roots to the missionary efforts of the Church of England.  These churches span the globe and are loosely confederated in an association known as the Anglican Communion. Anglicans/Episcopalians hold that there are four essential elements of faith and order in the Church:

The Holy Scriptures: The Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament of the Bible as the revealed Word of God;

The Nicene Creed: The classic statement of Christian doctrine by the Church Fathers of the 5th century as the sufficient statement of faith;

The Sacraments: Baptism and the Eucharist (Communion), ordained by Christ, and Anointing for healing, and Last Rites are the basic sacraments of grace we practice;

The Historic Episcopate: The Apostolic Succession of Bishops, extending back to St. Peter, as essential for the preservation of sound doctrine and good order.

Within the bounds of these four markers of faith, Anglicans leave considerable room for interpretation. We recognize with St. Paul that “now we see in a mirror dimly” and that only in the fullness oftime will we come to know God fully. We are therefore obliged to approach the task of discerning God’s truth with openness and humility.

Anglicanism has often been described as a “bridge” or “middle way” between Protestantism and Catholicism. It is actively involved in ecumenical discussions and programs with churches of both traditions throughout the world. Its earnest desire is for the divisions among Christians to end and full communion to be restored. Any Christian who has been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, regardless of denomination, is welcome to receive the Lord’s Supper at an Anglican altar.