Origin of the Anglican Church

You are in an Anglican church whose traditions date back to the 16th century. Following the Protestant Reformation, the Church of England separated from the Roman Catholic Church, simplifying rituals with the Book of Common Prayer. But it preserved key traditions, including those concerning beliefs, earning it the description Reformed Catholicism.

King Henry VIII played a pivotal role in this break, though not for purely theological reasons. Desiring a male heir, he sought to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, but the Pope refused. In response, Henry declared himself Supreme Head of the Church of England, severing ties with Rome. While his motives were personal, this shift had profound religious and political consequences.

Under Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, Anglicanism took shape, establishing its essential teachings. As British explorers, traders, colonists, and missionaries traveled the world, they carried their faith with them, leading to the creation of autonomous Anglican churches across the globe.

So, whether sparked by love, politics, or faith, the Anglican Church’s history remains a fascinating chapter in the story of Christianity.

Our story dates back to 1893 when the Diocesan Synod was established as our governing body. In 1955, we officially became the Anglican Church of Canada.

A significant milestone came in 1976 when six women were ordained as priests—nearly two decades before the Church of England followed suit. In 1993, Bishop Victoria Matthews made history as our first female bishop.

A self-governing church 

Today, we are a self-governing church within the worldwide Anglican Communion, with over 500,000 members in nearly 1,700 parishes. Our services are held in multiple languages, including Inuktitut, French, Spanish, and Cree, reflecting Canada’s rich cultural diversity. Since 2019, Archbishop Linda Nicholls has led us as our 14th Primate, guiding our mission and outreach. 

There are approximately 65 congregations, serving an overall Anglican population of approximately 4,000 souls. A handful of those congregations have only one service a year and a few serve only summer parishioners. The diocese is presently served by approximately 25 priests who are assisted by several deacons and lay readers. The majority of incumbents serve multi-point parishes, and some clergy are engaged in ministry on a non-stipendiary basis.

There has been an Anglican presence in Quebec since 1759 after the British forces arrival. Founded in 1793, the Diocese of Quebec was established to serve the growing Anglican population in what was then Lower Canada. Its first bishop, Jacob Mountain, was an English clergyman appointed by King George III. When he arrived in Quebec City in 1793, he quickly realized that being a bishop in a vast, mostly French-speaking and Catholic region came with unique challenges.

1800s

In the early 1800s, much of his diocese was only accessible by canoe, horseback, or on foot. Determined to bring Anglican ministry to even the most remote areas, he endured long and treacherous journeys, often staying in modest settlers' homes. Despite these hardships, he worked tirelessly to establish churches and schools, leaving a lasting impact on this region.

After 1793

Thirteen bishops have served Quebec since 1793. The first three were appointed by the Crown; the first to be elected was James William Williams, in 1863. Our Church Society, formed in 1842, is one of only two in Canada still in existence. It acts as a missionary society and plays an important supportive role in the life and work of the church in Quebec. 

Nowadays

Today the Anglican Diocese of Quebec has approximately 65 congregations, serving an overall Anglican population of approximately 4,000 souls. Since 2017 The Right Reverend Bruce Joseph Andrew Myers OGS is the thirteenth Anglican bishop of Quebec.

Meet Bishop Bruce Myers, the thirteenth Anglican bishop of Quebec! Born to Quebecer parents and raised on a farm in Ontario, he first made his mark as a journalist and broadcaster, covering politics in Ottawa and Quebec City. His journey into ministry began in 2004 here at Holy Trinity, leading him to serve as a parish priest in the Magdalen Islands and Quebec City, as well as an archdeacon and communications leader for the diocese.

Bishop Bruce’s work has also taken him to the national level, where he coordinated ecumenical and interfaith relations for the Anglican Church of Canada. Elected as coadjutor bishop in 2015, he was ordained in 2016 and officially became diocesan bishop in 2017. His deep theological studies span McGill, the Bossey Ecumenical Institute, and Geneva, culminating in a doctorate in ecumenical studies from Saint Paul University.

Beyond his spiritual leadership, Bishop Bruce has a fascinating range of interests! He’s an avid beekeeper, cyclist, and photographer, and he loves to write and travel—an especially useful passion when overseeing a diocese that spans 720,000 square kilometres! Keep an eye out for him as he journeys across this vast and historic region.

The beliefs and practices of the Anglican blend elements of Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions.

The Communion teaches a Trinitarian understanding of God and believes in Jesus as the coequal and coeternal Son of God who came for the salvation of humankind. The holy book of Communion is the Bible, which comprises either the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. 

Anglicans recognize two sacraments—baptism and the Eucharist—while also honoring confirmation, ordination, marriage, reconciliation, and anointing the sick. Easter and Christmas are two of the most important holy days in the Communion, and members gather weekly. The Communion’s worship service varies but often includes the eucharistic rites, prayer, the singing of Psalms and hymns, scripture readings, and a sermon.