A Brief History of the Anglican Use Society

There have always been converts to the Catholic Church from
Anglicanism.  Certainly the names of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Cardinal Newman, Chesterton, and Knox come to mind as famous converts.  The Anglican Communion, in spite of herself, has continued to point many individuals toward the Catholic Church.  When radical changes began to be introduced in the Anglican Church, such as the ordination of women and changes in the Prayerbook, many Anglicans felt forced to leave.  Some made their way into other churches, others formed new churches, and some stayed.  Today this disintegration of Anglicanism is more pronounced and rapid than ever, and it appears that the Anglican Communion itself may be in danger of splitting up.

In the 1970s two significant groups of Episcopalians in the United States petitioned the Holy See to let them come into the Catholic Church.  His Holiness Pope John Paul II responded with the Pastoral Provision for Anglicans and permitted Episcopalian priests, including quite a number of married men, to be ordained Catholic priests.  The Holy Fathers Pastoral Provision, together with the Roman Catholic Bishops in the USA, also allowed Anglican Use Congregations to be formed, and personal parishes were erected in several dioceses of the United States.

The early days of exceedingly difficult work saw the birth of two Anglican Use parishes which continue to this day:  Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas with Fr. Christopher Phillips, Pastor; and Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Church, Houston, Texas, Father James T. Moore, Pastor.  Both these parishes are thriving, and have built new churches.

The fact that Anglican Use Congregations are still few in number is due to a number of factors.  It is rare that an Episcopalian congregation enters with their priest as was the case with Fr. Allan Hawkins and St. Mary the Virgin Church in Arlington, Texas.  Fr. Richard Bradford of Boston, MA also entered the church with a number of his parishioners from All Saints Ashmont.

On February 23, 2003 a group of people met at St. Luke’s Church in Whitestone, New York, under the leadership of Father Joseph
Wilson, a Catholic priest who is a long-time devotee of the Anglican Use.  The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the formation of an Anglican Use Congregation in New York City.  Out of those discussions came the sense that there might be many people in various other parts of the country wishing to do the same thing, and that they needed a vehicle by which to do it.  Father Joseph Wilson celebrated Mass, and the participants signed a document forming the Anglican Use Confraternity.  Joseph Blake was elected President pro tempore.  Since that time the name has been changed to Anglican Use Society, and has been incorporated in the State of Pennsylvania. 

On June 16, 2003, Trinity Sunday, Father Richard Bradford, Chaplain for the Anglican Use in Boston, celebrated Mass at St. Vincent Ferrer Church in Manhattan.  This was the first official Anglican Use Mass in New York City.  Father Carleton Jones, OP, a former Cowley Father,  and Father Kevin Robb, OP, the Superior, were our gracious hosts.  Following Mass there was further discussion about the Anglican Use Confraternity.

On January 4, 2004 there was a Quiet Day held at St. Luke’s, Whitestone, New York, and Father Wilson celebrated the Anglican Use Mass.

By this time the original plan for the Confraternity had been vetted by canon lawyers, and it was decided to call the organization the Anglican Use Society.  Mr. Blake, as President pro tempore, was authorized to incorporate the Society as a Non Profit Corporation in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  The provisional Board of Directors included Mr. Blake, Father Wilson, David Burt, Joseph Oliveri, and Jacob Dell.  They signed the incorporating documents.

It was decided that the Board of Directors should meet quarterly at the Embertides, and that the Society should have a Retreat in the Fall and an Anglican Use Conference in the Spring.  The First Annual Meeting of the Society met on Trinity Sunday 2004 in conjunction with the second Anglican Use Mass to be celebrated at St. Vincent Farrer Church in New York City.