Anglican Province of America
The Anglican Province of America is a Continuing Anglican church in the United States that emphasizes traditional Anglican doctrine, worship, and church order.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Anglican Province of America (APA) is a Continuing Anglican denomination based in the United States. It emerged from opposition within American Anglicanism to theological, liturgical, and social developments associated with the Episcopal Church in the United States during the 1960s. Its founders sought to preserve what they regarded as historic Anglican faith and practice, particularly traditional liturgy, moral teaching, and the use of the older American Book of Common Prayer. The immediate organizational predecessor of the APA was the American Episcopal Church, established in March 1968. The movement developed amid disagreements over the Episcopal Church’s increasing engagement with the civil-rights movement, concerns about perceived alignment with radical political causes, and proposals to modernize the Book of Common Prayer. The APA later became part of the wider Continuing Anglican movement, whose churches generally trace their institutional origins to the Congress of Saint Louis and the 1978 formation of alternative Anglican jurisdictions. The province is episcopally governed and has historically operated through dioceses and affiliated communities. Its best-documented domestic structures have included the Diocese of the Eastern United States, the Diocese of Mid-America, and the Diocese of the West. In 2021, the Diocese of Mid-America and the Diocese of the West were consolidated as the Diocese of the Central and Western States. Subsequent changes, including the departure of Bishop Robert Todd Giffin and some parishes in 2025, indicate that the province’s diocesan organization remains subject to institutional realignment. Walter Howard Grundorf served as the APA’s presiding bishop from its foundation through his retirement in 2021. Chandler Holder Jones succeeded him as presiding bishop and also serves as bishop of the Diocese of the Eastern United States. The province has also maintained relationships with Continuing Anglican bodies outside the United States and identifies affiliated churches or communities in India, Ecuador, the Philippines, and Haiti. In Ecuador, the Indigenous Pastorale of the Anglican Province of America reportedly encompasses dozens of communities and was recognized by the Ecuadorian government in 2016. The APA’s worship is centered on the 1928 American Edition of the Book of Common Prayer. Its 2022 constitution also permits other traditional Anglican service books and liturgical resources when authorized by the appropriate bishop, including the Book of Offices, the 1940 Hymnal, the Anglican Missal, and the American Missal. This liturgical policy reflects the province’s identity as a traditionalist and Anglo-Catholic-leaning body within the Continuing Anglican spectrum, although its congregations may vary in ceremonial practice. Ecumenical cooperation has been a major part of the APA’s modern history. The province participated in discussions concerning the Common Cause Partnership but delayed joining because of unresolved issues, including the ordination of women. It subsequently pursued closer relations with the Anglican Church in America (ACA), the Anglican Catholic Church (ACC), and the Diocese of the Holy Cross. These relationships produced a 2016 accord and the 2017 Atlanta Concordat, under which the participating jurisdictions recognized one another’s ministries and entered into full communion while pledging to work toward eventual organic union. In 2022, the APA also announced full sacramental communion with the Traditional Anglican Church. The APA is not a commercial brand and does not publish conventional financial or market metrics. Its public identity is instead defined by denominational affiliation, episcopal governance, traditional Anglican liturgy, Continuing Anglican ecclesiology, and efforts to maintain communion with related jurisdictions.
History
The Anglican Province of America developed from the traditionalist reaction to changes taking place in the Episcopal Church in the United States during the 1960s. Critics within the Episcopal Church objected both to the denomination’s social and political engagement and to proposals for revising inherited Anglican worship. In particular, some believed that the church’s involvement in the civil-rights movement had become too closely associated with radical causes, while others opposed the modernization of the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. These disputes contributed to the creation of the American Episcopal Church in March 1968, the body from which the APA emerged. The province became part of the Continuing Anglican landscape, a network of jurisdictions formed by clergy and laity seeking to preserve traditional Anglican doctrine, sacramental practice, and church order outside the structures of the Episcopal Church. Walter Howard Grundorf was the APA’s presiding bishop from its foundation until 2021. He was consecrated to the episcopate in 1991 by bishops associated with Continuing Anglican and historic Anglican jurisdictions. Grundorf also signed the Bartonville Agreement in 1999, an initiative intended to encourage cooperation among several Continuing Anglican churches and conservative Episcopalians. The APA’s diocesan structure changed repeatedly as Continuing Anglican jurisdictions debated doctrine, liturgy, women’s ordination, and the appropriate form of institutional cooperation. In 2008, the province delayed a decision on joining the Common Cause Partnership while it sought clarification on contentious issues, including whether women should be ordained. The Diocese of the West subsequently disaffiliated and joined the Reformed Episcopal Church, which was involved in the Common Cause process. The APA reorganized its western presence in March 2009 with parishes that had remained within the province. The province continued to develop its domestic dioceses during the 2010s. Chandler Holder Jones was elected bishop suffragan of the Diocese of the Eastern United States in 2010 and later became its bishop coadjutor in 2019. Robert Todd Giffin was elected bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Mid-America in 2012, became bishop coadjutor in 2014, and was installed as that diocese’s ordinary in 2015. In 2021, the Diocese of Mid-America and the Diocese of the West were joined to create the Diocese of the Central and Western States, with Giffin elected as its ordinary. Ecumenical relations became increasingly important. The APA and the Anglican Church in America had historically been connected to the wider Traditional Anglican Communion environment, although differences over institutional alignment and the Roman Catholic personal ordinariates complicated the path toward unity. The APA’s synod approved intercommunion with the ACA in 2011. In January 2016, the APA reached a formal accord with the ACA, the Anglican Catholic Church, and the Diocese of the Holy Cross. The relationship was further formalized at a 2017 joint synod in Atlanta, where the four primates signed the Atlanta Concordat. The agreement recognized the participating churches as sharing orthodox and catholic Anglican faith, sacraments, moral teaching, worship, and Holy Orders, while committing them to full communion and the pursuit of eventual organic union. The APA also expanded or maintained international relationships. Its Indigenous Pastorale in Ecuador includes numerous communities that had previously been connected to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Riobamba. The organization was recognized by Ecuador’s government in 2016. The province identifies additional affiliated churches or communities in India, the Philippines, and Haiti, and its presiding bishop has served as metropolitan for these associated bodies. In July 2021, Grundorf retired at the synod of the Diocese of the Eastern United States. Jones was enthroned as the diocese’s fourth ordinary and was elected the next presiding bishop of the APA the following day. In 2022, the province announced full sacramental communion with the Traditional Anglican Church. The organization’s structure again changed in 2025 when Giffin left the APA with some parishes and proceeded toward the formation of a new non-geographic diocese connected with the Anglican Missionary Church. The APA’s constitutional and liturgical identity remains centered on traditional Anglican worship. Its 2022 constitution designates the 1928 American Edition of the Book of Common Prayer for use throughout the province, while allowing bishops to authorize additional traditional service books and musical resources. These include the Book of Offices, the 1940 Hymnal, the Anglican Missal, and the American Missal. The province therefore combines a conservative approach to doctrine and moral teaching with a decentralized network of dioceses, parishes, and international affiliations.
- 2022
Full sacramental communion with the Traditional Anglican Church announced
[1]The APA entered into an agreement of full sacramental communion with the Traditional Anglican Church.
- 2021
Chandler Holder Jones elected presiding bishop
[1]Jones succeeded Grundorf as presiding bishop after Grundorf’s retirement.
- 2021
Dioceses of Mid-America and the West consolidated
[1]The two dioceses joined to form the Diocese of the Central and Western States.
- 2017
Atlanta Concordat signed
[1]Four Continuing Anglican jurisdictions signed a concordat of full communion and pledged to pursue institutional union.
- 2016
Formal accord reached with three Continuing Anglican jurisdictions
[1]The APA reached an accord with the Anglican Church in America, Anglican Catholic Church, and Diocese of the Holy Cross.
- 2011
Intercommunion with the Anglican Church in America approved
[1]The provincial synod approved an intercommunion agreement with the ACA.
- 2009
Western diocesan structure reorganized
[1]The APA reorganized its Diocese of the West after a group of parishes departed and joined the Reformed Episcopal Church.
- 1999
Bartonville Agreement signed
[1]Grundorf became a signatory to an agreement intended to promote cooperation among Continuing Anglican churches and conservative Episcopalians.
- 1991
Walter Howard Grundorf consecrated bishop
[1]Grundorf was consecrated on October 3, 1991, and later served as the APA’s long-term presiding bishop.
- 1968
American Episcopal Church founded
[1]Opposition to social, theological, and liturgical developments in the Episcopal Church contributed to the creation of the American Episcopal Church, the predecessor of the APA.
Products and positioning
A traditionalist Continuing Anglican denomination preserving historic Anglican doctrine, episcopal order, and older American prayer-book worship while cooperating with related Anglican jurisdictions.
Religious services · 1968
Traditional Anglican worship
The APA’s principal public offering is parish-based Anglican worship, including Holy Communion, the Daily Office, preaching, baptism, confirmation, marriage, burial, and other sacramental or pastoral services. Worship is organized under episcopal authority and is intended to preserve traditional Anglican doctrine, ceremonial practice, and prayer-book forms rather than function as a commercial product.
Liturgy · 1928
1928 American Book of Common Prayer worship
The 1928 American Edition of the Book of Common Prayer is the APA’s principal authorized liturgical standard under its 2022 constitution. It supplies the core forms for public worship and sacramental ministry and represents the province’s preference for inherited Anglican language and ceremonial structure.
Ecclesiastical communities · 2016
International Anglican communities
The APA supports or maintains relationships with affiliated Anglican communities outside the United States, including communities in Ecuador, India, the Philippines, and Haiti. The Indigenous Pastorale in Ecuador is described as a substantial network of local communities with an established relationship recognized by Ecuadorian authorities.
Brand decisions
2022
Full sacramental communion with the Traditional Anglican ChurchStrategyBackground
The APA continued to develop relationships with traditionalist Anglican jurisdictions beyond its existing concordat partners.
Action taken
The province announced an agreement of full sacramental communion with the Traditional Anglican Church.
Aftermath
The agreement broadened the APA’s network of recognized sacramental relationships within the Continuing Anglican movement.
2021
Change in presiding bishopGeneration changeBackground
Walter Howard Grundorf retired after serving as the APA’s presiding bishop for decades.
Action taken
Chandler Holder Jones was elected and installed as the new presiding bishop.
Aftermath
Jones continued to lead the province while also serving as ordinary of the Diocese of the Eastern United States.
2017
Adoption of the Atlanta ConcordatStrategyBackground
The APA, ACA, ACC, and Diocese of the Holy Cross sought a common basis for cooperation grounded in traditional Anglican faith, sacraments, moral teaching, worship, and apostolic succession.
Action taken
The four jurisdictions signed a concordat recognizing full communion and committing themselves to pursue full institutional and organic union.
Aftermath
The agreement established a continuing framework for shared sacramental and parochial relationships, although it did not immediately create a single merged church.
2011
Intercommunion agreement with the Anglican Church in AmericaStrategyBackground
The APA and ACA were related Continuing Anglican jurisdictions pursuing closer cooperation after disagreements and fragmentation within the movement.
Action taken
The APA provincial synod unanimously approved intercommunion with the ACA.
Aftermath
The decision contributed to the formal accord of 2016 and the Atlanta Concordat of 2017.
2008
Delay of Common Cause Partnership membership decisionStrategyBackground
The APA was associated with discussions surrounding the Common Cause Partnership, which sought to unite conservative and Continuing Anglican jurisdictions in North America. Disagreement over unresolved issues included the ordination of women.
Action taken
The provincial synod postponed a decision on membership while the disputed matters remained unresolved.
Aftermath
The Diocese of the West disaffiliated and subsequently joined the Reformed Episcopal Church, while the APA reorganized its western presence in 2009.
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