Let me tell you a little about our Anglican Church here in France. I should begin by saying that it is a privilege to have such a Church, as of course France is a Roman Catholic country and does not need to permit other religions to have a base here. However, the Anglican Church has good relationships with the Catholic church, and we are always aware of our standing in the country.
Our church comes under the Diocese of Europe, overseen by the Bishop of Gibraltar, as do all other Anglican churches in Europe.
Ten years ago an English vicar and his wife felt called to come to Brittany to start a centre for worship. All the legalities complied with , they opened their own home, with a group of half a dozen people , for Sunday worship. Contacts were made during the next year with a Catholic teaching monastery , who kindly offered a set of rooms to be used on a Sunday. Set in their beautiful gardens, it was a wonderful place to worship at the weekly services….
A very good, positive story. A most welcome post. Thanks.
Lovely wall paper on the blog, but if this is true:
“Our church comes under the Diocese of Europe, overseen by the Bishop of Gibraltar, as do all other Anglican churches in Europe.”
What does the Rt Revd Pierre W. Whalon, Bishop-in-charge of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe do for a living?
+Pierre could answer, but I believe the overlap is that Gibralter includes all Church of England congregations in Europe, while the Convocation includes congregations of Episcopal Church foundation. They cooperate in significant ways. Bishop Whalon is an Honorary Assistant Bishop of Gibralter, and the Bishop of Gibralter and his Suffragan for Europe are honorary in the Convocation.
Bruce Robison
Bruce, thanks, but my point, once again, is simply that there is a precedent for overlapping Anglican jurisdictions in the same geographical area.
#4 – Overlapping Anglican jurisdictions in the same geographical area that both cooperate and encourage each others ministry. That is not the case in North America.