Behre estimated that the Church in S.C. has about 6,000 members now, down from 29,000 before the split. Messiah and St. Anne’s are two of eight mission churches the Church in S.C. has recognized in the last year.
Diocese spokesman Jim Lewis said that it’s hard to compare the current Diocese with the pre-split Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina.
While Grace has joined as a parish mission, at least one other church that was not formerly associated with the traditional church has joined the Diocese, he said.
“The last year has been a sorting out period,” Lewis said.
The Rev. Iain Boyd, chief pastor at Trinity, said his church lost about 30 members immediately after the breakaway and since then some new members have joined while others have gone elsewhere.
“I’m encouraged to see there hasn’t been much acrimony,” he said.
Wouldn’t it make sense to combine the two dioceses in South Carolina and just let Waldo be Bishop of South Carolina, and get rid of Upper South Carolina altogether?