© MMW 2005
In March 1994 the Church of England began to ordain women to the priesthood. This development had been foreseen for some years, but only two groups had recognised the necessity for separating from the Established Church. In London Fr. Leslie Whiting established an organisation ‘The Movement for a Continuing Church of England’ to prepare for this eventuality. In the area of Stoke on Trent there was already an independent congregation led by Fr. Leslie Hamlet. Both groups looked to the Anglican Continuum in the USA, especially to the Anglican Catholic Church,(ACC).
By 1994 the ACC had suffered a serious disruption. Archbishop Lewis headed the main ACC body, while the former ACC Metropolitan, Archbishop Falk, led the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC). A new ACC Diocese had been established in the UK with Leslie Hamlett as Bishop Ordinary. Fr. Leslie Whiting, linked with the TAC, waited until the first ordinations of women had taken place. Both groups remained small because the Church of England established a semi-independent group, Forward in Faith, in order to keep traditionalists within its ranks.
From the start the general instability and divisiveness of Continuing Anglicanism was reflected within the UK. In 1997, in connection with the impending death of Archbishop Lewis, the UK diocese was forced out of the ACC along with other dioceses. Together these dioceses took the name The Holy Catholic Church- Anglican Rite (HCC-AR) with Bishop Hamlett as Metropolitan. Only two years later in 1999 Archbishop Hamlett masterminded a further separation from the US dioceses, establishing The Holy Catholic Church - Western Rite (HCC-WR).
Sadly, this was not the end of division. In 1995 Archbishop Hamlett’s behaviour ended in his canonical deposition by the Synod of Bishops of the HCC-WR. The same synod also, recognising that the separation of 1999 was unjustified, sought and achieved the restoration of full sacramental communion with the HCC-AR.
This was probably the first example of the restoration of unity between two Continuing Anglican jurisdictions. The approach which proved successful is described further in the Task Page.
By 1994 the ACC had suffered a serious disruption. Archbishop Lewis headed the main ACC body, while the former ACC Metropolitan, Archbishop Falk, led the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC). A new ACC Diocese had been established in the UK with Leslie Hamlett as Bishop Ordinary. Fr. Leslie Whiting, linked with the TAC, waited until the first ordinations of women had taken place. Both groups remained small because the Church of England established a semi-
From the start the general instability and divisiveness of Continuing Anglicanism was reflected within the UK. In 1997, in connection with the impending death of Archbishop Lewis, the UK diocese was forced out of the ACC along with other dioceses. Together these dioceses took the name The Holy Catholic Church-
Sadly, this was not the end of division. In 1995 Archbishop Hamlett’s behaviour ended in his canonical deposition by the Synod of Bishops of the HCC-
This was probably the first example of the restoration of unity between two Continuing Anglican jurisdictions. The approach which proved successful is described further in the Task Page.
