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Episcopal Church (1789 - Present) - Religious Group

Religious Family: Anglican/Episcopal
Religious Tradition: Mainline Protestant
Description: The Episcopal Church continues the mission established by the Church of England in the American Colonies in the seventeenth century. Becoming independent after the American Revolution, in 1789, the church was known for many years as the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, and still uses that name in its official documents along with its more common name (the Episcopal Church).
Official Site: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/

Connections: Episcopal Church


 
 Group (Active) 
 
 Group (Defunct) 
 
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Maps: Episcopal Church1

Adherence Rate per 1,000 (2020)

Congregations (2020)



Top 5 Episcopal Church States (2020)1 [View all States]

Rank State Congregations Adherents Adherence Rate
1 District Of Columbia 32 15,384 22.31
2 Rhode Island 52 14,678 13.38
3 Connecticut 156 43,373 12.03
4 Virginia 333 99,669 11.55
5 Wyoming 45 6,123 10.61

Top 5 Episcopal Church Counties (2020)1 [View all Counties]

Rank County Congregations Adherents Adherence Rate
1 Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK 17 1,998 373.95
2 Lyman County, SD 3 508 136.63
3 Williamsburg city, VA 1 2,066 133.94
4 Sioux County, ND 3 422 108.26
5 Oglala Lakota County, SD 6 1,054 77.09

Top 5 Episcopal Church Metro Areas (2020)1 [View all Metro Areas]

Rank Metro Congregations Adherents Adherence Rate
1 Easton, MD Micro Area 7 2,401 63.98
2 Jackson, WY-ID Micro Area 2 1,150 32.89
3 Charlottesville, VA Metro Area 19 5,929 26.76
4 Bennington, VT Micro Area 3 872 23.35
5 Sheridan, WY Micro Area 1 701 22.67

Episcopal Church, Members (1925 - 2010)2


Episcopal Church, Ministers & Churches (1925 - 2010)2


Episcopal Church, Trends (1925 - 2010)2

YEAR MEMBERS MINISTERS CHURCHES
1925 1,164,911 5,771 7,833
1929 1,237,695 5,927 7,692
1931 1,261,158
1933 1,876,390 7,424
1935 1,897,136 5,939 7,529
1937 1,942,322 7,364
1939 1,996,434 7,074
1942 2,074,178 7,685
1944 2,227,524 7,894
1946 2,155,514
1947 2,160,207 6,985
1949 2,540,548 6,654 7,784
1950 2,417,464 6,473 7,116
1951 2,482,887 6,740 7,185
1952 2,550,831 6,961 7,215
1953 2,660,699 6,970 7,170
1954 2,757,944 7,193 7,271
1956 2,852,965 7,484 6,708
1957 2,965,137 7,874 6,842
1958 3,126,662 8,430 7,011
1959 3,444,265 8,708 7,657
1960 3,269,325 8,938 7,155
1961 3,317,870 9,385 7,096
1962 3,336,728 9,615 7,248
1963 3,340,759 9,445 7,547
1964 3,410,657 10,213 7,202
1966 3,429,153 10,719 7,562
1967 3,420,297 10,639 7,180
1968 3,373,890 11,010 7,137
1969 3,330,272 11,041 7,112
1970 3,285,826 11,355 7,069
1971 3,217,365 11,108 7,116
1972 3,062,734 11,566 6,891
1973 2,917,165 11,507 6,768
1974 2,907,293 11,573 7,087
1975 2,857,513 12,186 7,192
1976 2,882,064 12,240 7,116
1977 2,818,830 12,302 7,054
1978 2,815,359 12,310 7,009
1979 2,841,350 12,600 7,022
1980 2,786,004 12,672 7,215
1981 2,767,440 12,908 7,234
1982 2,794,139 12,974 7,095
1983 2,794,690 13,342 7,387
1984 2,775,424 13,648 7,379
1985 2,739,422 13,940 7,274
1986 2,504,507 14,111 7,054
1987 2,462,300 14,355 7,387
1988 2,455,422 14,694 7,360
1989 2,433,413 14,831 7,372
1990 2,446,050 14,878 7,354
1991 2,471,880 14,878 7,367
1993 2,504,682 15,000 7,388
1995 2,536,550 15,073 7,415
1996 2,364,559 14,925 7,390
1999 2,300,461 14,428 7,359
2000 2,333,327 16,712 7,364
2001 2,333,628 16,388 7,344
2002 2,320,221 16,493 7,305
2003 2,284,233 15,872 7,220
2004 2,247,819 15,870 7,200
2006 2,154,572 15,051 7,095
2007 2,116,749 15,170 7,055
2008 2,057,292 6,964
2009 2,006,343 15,404 6,895
2010 1,951,907 6,794
       

Demographic & Public Opinion Data

The following table provides information from Episcopal Church in the USA respondents on demographic characteristics and a variety of attitudes and experiences using data from the 2014 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, collected by Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

Demographics (Episcopal Church in the USA)
Percent
Percent that live in the South. 41.7
Percent that are currently citizens of the United States 99.6
Percent that are 60 or older 55.9
Percent female 52
Percent of Hispanic origin or descent 1.6
Percent that are white 90.3
Percent born in the United States 95.1
Percent that are currently married 60.3
Percent with a family income of less than $40,000 a year 20.2
Percent that have a B.A., B.S. or other 4-year college degree 68.6
   

Religious Practices (Episcopal Church in the USA)
Percent
Percent that are members of a local house of worship 66.6
Percent that pray at least once a day 51.8
Percent that meditate at least once a week 41.9
Percent that attend religious services at least once a week 34
Percent that read scripture outside of religious services at least once a week 22.9
Percent that participate in prayer groups, Scripture study groups or religious education programs at least once a week 14.4
Percent that share their faith with "non-believers or people from other relgious backgrounds" at least once a week 10.7
Percent that did volunteer work in the last seven days 45.5
Percent that speak in tongues at least once a month 4
   

Religious Beliefs (Episcopal Church in the USA)
Percent
Percent that believe in God or a universal spirit 95.1
Percent that believe in Heaven 66.2
Percent that believe in Hell 36.6
Percent that believe in reincarnation 0
Percent that say religion is a very important part of their life 49.4
Percent that believe their holy book is the word of God 40.9
Percent that believe that their church or denomination should preserve its traditional beliefs and practices 24.5
Percent that look most to "religious teachings and beliefs" when it comes to questions of right and wrong 20.6
Percent that believe that churches and other religious organizations bring people together and strengthen community bonds 94.3
Percent that believe that churches and other religious organizations play an important role in helping the poor and needy 92.3
Percent that believe that churches and other religious organizations protect and strengthen morality in society 80.2
Percent that believe that churches and other religious organizations are too involved with politics 49
Percent that believe that churches and other religious organizations are too concerned with money and power 44.5
Percent that believe that churches and other religious organizations focus too much on rules 48.4
Percent that think about the meaning and purpose of life at least once a week 49.4
Percent that feel a strong sense of gratitude or thankfulness at least once a week 79.8
Percent that feel a deep sense of wonder about the universe at least once a week 45.7
Percent that feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and well-being at least once a week 56.1
Percent that think many religions can lead to eternal life 91.1
   

Moral Attitudes (Episcopal Church in the USA)
Percent
Percent that believe that there are clear and absolute standards for what is right and wrong 29.6
Percent that think homosexuality should be accepted by society 83.8
Percent that "strongly favor" allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally 39.7
Percent that think more women in the workforce is a change for the worse 5.1
Percent that think that more people having children without getting married is a change for the worse 54.3
Percent that believe that abortion should be illegal in all cases 2.8
   

Political Attitudes (Episcopal Church in the USA)
Percent
Percent Republican 26.5
Percent that are conservative or very conservative 30
Percent that are not registered to vote 6.7
Percent that personally know anyone who is gay or lesbian 92.3
Percent that believe that government aid to the poor does more harm than good 37.9
Percent that think that growing immigration is a change for the worse 32.6
Percent that believe that stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost. 68.2
Percent that would prefer a smaller government, with fewer services 55.1
   

Other Beliefs and Attitudes (Episcopal Church in the USA)
Percent
Percent that are very satisfied with their health 51.8
Percent that are "very satisfied" with family life 79.6
Percent that say they are "very happy" with life these days 39.3
Percent that believe that humans and other living beings evolved over time 84
   

Sources

1 The 2020 data were collected by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB) and include data for 372 religious bodies or groups. Of these, the ASARB was able to gather data on congregations and adherents for 217 and on congregations only for 155. [More information on the data sources]

2 All data on clergy, members, and churches are taken from the National Council of Churches’ Historic Archive CD and recent print editions of the Council’s Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches. The CD archives all 68 editions of the Yearbook (formerly called Yearbook of the Churches and Yearbook of American Churches) from 1916 to 2000. Read more information on the Historic Archive CD and the Yearbook.

Membership figures are "inclusive." According to the Yearbook, this includes "those who are full communicant or confirmed members plus other members baptized, non-confirmed or non-communicant." Each denomination has its own criteria for membership.

When a denomination listed on the Historic Archive CD was difficult to identify, particularly in early editions of the Yearbook, the ARDA staff consulted numerous sources, including Melton’s Encyclopedia of American Religions and the Handbook of Denominations in the United States. In some cases, ARDA staff consulted the denomination’s website or contacted its offices by phone. When a denomination could not be positively identified, its data were omitted.

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