Historical Background

Christianity in England dates back to ancient times. Historical evidence suggests that by 180 AD the first diocese had already been established in London. Later some English bishops would attend the Council of Arles in the year 314. During the next three centuries, local Christianity would survive both the paganism of the Celts and that of the Anglo-Saxon invaders, as well as Pelagianism. So when Augustine of Canterbury (534-604) was sent from Rome in 597, he encountered a native church known as the Celtic Church.

It is necessary to mention that the Celtic church differed from the Roman Church in many aspects. For example, the English church would only recognize papal supremacy at the Synod of Whitby in the year 664. In subsequent centuries, discontent with Rome would continue among the English, both politically and religiously. A very popular figure of this discontent was John Wycliffe (1324-1384). In a strict sense, the origin of the Anglican Church can be cited in 1534, when the British Parliament approved the Act of Supremacy that declared King Henry VIII (1491-1547) as the highest hierarch of the English Church and the separation with Rome.

At first there were very few things that differentiated the Anglican Church from the Church of Rome. Henry VIII himself was doctrinally Roman Catholic until his death. Several Catholics would be executed for opposing Royal Supremacy, while others would be executed for holding Protestant opinions. However, Henry would order the abolition of monasteries, the closure of monastic orders and the destruction of relics. All this would pave the way for the theological and liturgical changes that occurred in the reigns of his children Edward VI and Elizabeth I. During the reign of Edward VI (1537-1553), continental reformers would collaborate with English clerics in the reform of the Church of England. Some changes they introduced were the abolition of clerical celibacy and the use and worship of images, the reduction of the sacraments, leaving only baptism and the Lord's Supper, the rejection of transubstantiation, the change in the language of the religious services of the Latin into English, the promotion of Bible study, the establishment of the Book of Common Prayer for public worship, among many other transformations. When Edward VI died in 1553, he was succeeded by his half-sister Mary I of England (1516-1558), a devout Catholic who would once again subject the English Church to the authority of the Pope. As a consequence, thousands of Protestants would take refuge in reformed areas of Europe. At that time 288 Protestants were condemned to die at the stake for refusing to submit to papal authority and Roman Catholic doctrines. Mary I of England also called BLOODY MARY, after her death, her half-sister Elizabeth I (1533-1603) would ascend to the throne. Elizabeth would re-establish the independence of the Church with the Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity of 1559, as well as many of the doctrinal and liturgical changes made in the reign of Edward VI. However, Elizabeth had a certain appreciation for splendor in the liturgy and she wished to attract the loyalty of Catholics to the established church, so a more radical Reformation could not be undertaken during her reign. During the reign of Elizabeth's successor, James I (1566-1625), the Puritan section of the Church of England made a petition for reforms in the Church, which was largely rejected by James. However, he agreed to the project of producing an English Bible, which would be known as the King James Version. Although the King was a supporter of the divine right of kings and had disputes with the Puritans and Presbyterians, he had a strong Calvinist influence, and even sent some delegates to the Synod of Dort.

Charles I (1600-1649), son and successor of James I, would lean towards Arminianism and William Laud (1573-1645), the new Archbishop of Canterbury, would return many liturgical practices of Roman Catholicism to the established Church. In the first half of the 17th century, a harsh policy was undertaken against Calvinism in the Church of England and especially against Puritanism and Scottish Presbyterianism, for which many of them would emigrate to the colonies. This persecution would lead to several wars. The most important was the English Civil War between 1642 and 1651, in which William Laud and Charles I were executed, and the Puritan dissidents triumphed. Between 1649 and 1660, the bishops were dethroned and Presbyterian ecclesiology was introduced. The 39 articles were replaced by the Westminster Confession of Faith, and the Book of Common Prayer by the Directory of Public Worship. Representation of the Westminster Assembly Representation of the Westminster Assembly But Puritanism did not last long, since the monarchy, with Charles II (1630-1685), would be reestablished, and with it the Church of England, the episcopal government and the 39 articles. The mandatory use of the Book of Common Prayer would again be imposed through the Act of Uniformity of 1662, as a result of which the majority of Puritans would leave the Church of England and face persecution. It is during the 17th century that the terms Iglesia Alta (High Church) and Iglesia Baja (Low Church) emerged. The former place greater emphasis on the ministry, sacraments and liturgy, while the latter place less emphasis on these aspects and are more concerned with evangelical principles. Charles II's successor was his brother James II (1633-1701), who was Roman Catholic, which was considered by the majority of the population as a threat to Protestantism and freedom, which is why many Anglicans and Puritans stopped worshiping. They put aside their differences and spoke out in favor of the Dutch Protestant William III of Orange (1650-1702), who would ascend to the English throne after the so-called “Glorious Revolution” of 1688. With the Law of Toleration of 1689, freedom of expression was granted. cult to those dissenting Protestants such as Congregationalists, Baptists, Presbyterians and others.

The name of this Church, which was organized September 2 nd , 1921 was The African Orthodox Church. Its faith, as declared, was Orthodox, in conformity with the Orthodox Churches of the east from which its Episcopate was derived. While it admitted to membership and other privileges persons of all races, it sought particularly to reach out to millions of African descents in both hemispheres and declared itself to be perpetually autonomous and controlled by Africans. Hence the name, African Orthodox.

The African Orthodox Church (AOC) owed its Episcopate and Apostolic Authority to the Syrian Church of Antioch where their disciples were first called Christians, and of which the See of St Peter the Apostle was the first Bishop.

In a Bull issued by Ignatius Peter III, Patriarch of Antioch and the East, permission was given for the Consecration of the Priest Joseph Rene Vilatte as Archbishop – Metropolitan of the Archdiocese of America, namely, for churches adhering to the Orthodox Faith; and, on May 29th, 1892, Archbishop Vilatte was duly consecrated in Ceylon by Archbishop Julius Alvarez, assisted by the Syrian Bishops George Gregorius and Paul Athanasius, all three being under obedience of the Patriarch of Antioch.

On September 28th, 1921, in the United States, George Alexander McGuire, who was born in South Africa and served in Anglican Church in South Africa and the United States of America until 1918、until he was rejected by the administration of the Anglican Church (Canterbury) after he had been elected to the office of Bishop, was consecrated to the first Bishop and Primate of the AOC by Archbishop Joseph Rene Vilatte, assisted by Bishop Carl A. Nybladh who had been consecrated by Vilatte. Bishop McGuire was thrived to lay the foundation of the newborn AOC and on September 10th, 1924, he was elected to Archbishop. Then Archbishop McGuire declared that he is forming a sect of the Anglican Church “for our race”, thus the unity of the AOC, South Africa and the United States of America, began. Archbishop McGuire was elected as Patriarch by the Conclave of Bishops with the title of Alexander I.

In 1934, the AOC had about 30,000 members, about fifty clergies, and thirty churches in Africa and United States of America. Alexander I died on November 10th, 1934, and Archbishop George Ford (1897-2004), succeeded the mantle.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the Church played a massive role in the fight against APARTHEID in South Africa and worked with Dr Martin Luther King Jr in the United States of America.In 1997, AOC implemented the reform and changed its name to Anglican African Orthodox Church(AAOC). From its inception, the AAOC set out to prevent the notion that we are a black church. We made it clear that we serve all God’s people.

Operations of the Church is now conducted with utmost fairness, and the organization is dedicated to establishing a resilient and welcoming foundation for devoted believers worldwide. In December 2022, the A.M.E.C. and Reformed Anglican Church (RAC) came into Intercommunion with each other to form a robust union. In addition to this Intercommunion; there is also Pentecostal Episcopal Church (PEC) of USA

The work of this body began in earnest and it took (and is) in developing a strong foundation. We began in South Africa and the USA, but now we have purview over thousands of parishes and clergies across five continents which will enhance the unified traditional Anglican faith.

History will decide on the work of the AMEC, but it will be left to our successors to carry the vision. It is our hope that we, who have planted the seeds of growth, while we will not see it, will bear fruit that brings others to the kingdom of God. We pray at that time that much will not be said of who we were, but that what we have done.