The Episcopal Church at William & Mary welcomes you just as you are: seeking, questioning, broken - and, no matter what, beloved by God.

Who We Are

We are followers of the one God, Three in One and One in Three: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As humans, we are created in God’s image. As Episcopalians, we follow God’s call to welcome all, resolute in faith or deeply questioning – or even unsure of what questions should be asked.

One need not identify as an Episcopalian, or even a Christian, to find a home in the Canterbury community. Do you have questions about God, faith, or the Church? Then you’ve found the right place! Reach out to the Chaplain, or join us for a gathering.

Canterbury: The Episcopal Church at William & Mary is an affirming community, and we welcome all as lovingly made in God’s image.

What do Episcopalians Believe?

The Episcopal Church is a branch of the Anglican Communion with churches in 22 different nations or territories. Anglicans are a blend of the early Christian tradition and the Reformation, which means our beliefs often fall on a spectrum, rather than any one concept of God. The Episcopal Church is not a confessional denomination – we do not subscribe to a specific doctrine of belief beyond what is found in Holy Scripture.

We outline four essential characteristics of our identity in the Episcopal Church:

  1. Holy Scripture, the Old and New Testaments, are the Word of God and the measure of faith, “containing all things necessary to salvation” (Book of Common Prayer, 877).

  2. The historic Creeds – the Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed – are the primary statements of the Christian faith.

  3. The two Sacraments as outlined Scripture, Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist, are central to our worship.

  4. The Church is led locally and historically by Bishops (the “Episcopate,” which is how we get our name!) as a link to Christian communities throughout time and place.

Want to learn more? See how we worship with the Book of Common Prayer, explore the Bible and what scripture we’re reading right now, and join us. We look forward to exploring faith together!