St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
God Loves You, No Exceptions
The Episcopal Church has a rich legacy of inclusion aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being. Further, we believe that the gifts of God are expressed by all people in our church, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. We believe that God loves us all – no exceptions.
St. Paul's Mission
St. Paul’s is an exceptionally welcoming Episcopal community in downtown Canton, grounded in faith, called by God’s Love to minister to the world.
As Episcopalians, we believe in and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection saved the world. We believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God.
The Episcopal Church embraces a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being; people of all genders and sexual orientations serve as bishops, priests, and deacons in our church. Laypeople and clergy work together in leadership and governance.
As our new presiding bishop, the Most Rev. Sean Rowe, said in his sermon during his ceremonial installation Feb. 2, “In God’s kingdom, immigrants and refugees, transgender people, the poor and the marginalized are not at the edges, fearful and alone. They are at the center of the Gospel story.”
The Episcopal Church embraces a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being; people of all genders and sexual orientations serve as bishops, priests, and deacons in our church. Laypeople and clergy work together in leadership and governance.
As our new presiding bishop, the Most Rev. Sean Rowe, said in his sermon during his ceremonial installation Feb. 2, “In God’s kingdom, immigrants and refugees, transgender people, the poor and the marginalized are not at the edges, fearful and alone. They are at the center of the Gospel story.”
Ten reasons to be an Episcopalian
and other fun stuff
On July 13 and 20, Fr. Joe and Mo. Kay celebrated an “Instructed Eucharist,” to help give us all a better understanding of the ways and whys of our Liturgy -- the gestures, words, music, dress and even the postures bring us together each week. To quote the Episcopal Church Visitors Center, “liturgical worship can be compared with a dance: once you learn the steps, you come to appreciate the rhythm, and it becomes satisfying to dance, again and again, as the music changes.”
You can find the services on our "Previous Worship" page if you'd like to catch up.
As part of our preparing, we created this four-part quiz, which you can find (with answers) below:
Questions
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
You can find the services on our "Previous Worship" page if you'd like to catch up.
As part of our preparing, we created this four-part quiz, which you can find (with answers) below:
Questions
Part I
- What does Eucharist mean?
- Bonus: Give three synomyms for Eucharist?
- What does liturgy mean?
- Where’d the Nicene Creed come from?
- The late comedian Robin Williams wrote “10 Reasons to be an Episcopalian.” Can you name three of them?
Part II
- How long has our current Book of Common Prayer been in use?
- When were the first women ordained in the Episcopal Church?
- What is the Daily Office in the Episcopal Church?
- What are the two main parts of our Holy Eucharist service?
- What are the four most common colors of the church year?
Part III
- What do the 20 windows on the upper north and south sides of St. Paul’s represent?
- What is a Proper?
- What’s the difference between the Nicene Creed and the Apostles Creed?
- Why do many Episcopal churches have red doors?
- How many years are in the Liturgical calendar cycle and when does the new year begin?
Part IV
- What’s the difference between the Episcopal church and the Anglican church?
- What’s a diocese in the Episcopal Church?
- What’s the difference between a deacon and a priest?
- Why does our altar (and that of so many other churches) face East?
- How many members are in the Episcopal Church?
Answers
Part I
Part I
- The word “Eucharist” comes from the Greek word eucharistia, meaning thanksgiving.
- Synonyms include Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, Mass
- Liturgy comes from the Greek term for “work of the people,” or “public service.”
- The Roman Emperor Constantine I called together the first Council of Nicaea in the year 325 and that groups of bishops agreed on the wording of the Nicene Creed to try to create a uniform consensus on prayer and liturgy. (Why Constantine called the council is open to interpretation.)
- Here are all 10 of comedian Robin Williams’ reasons to be an Episcopalian:
9. You can believe in dinosaurs.
8. Male and female God created them; male and female we ordain them.
7. You don’t have to check your brains at the door.
6. Pew aerobics.
5. Church year is color-coded.
4. Free wine on Sunday.
3. All of the pageantry – none of the guilt.
2. You don’t have to know how to swim to get baptized.
1. No matter what you believe, there’s bound to be at least one other Episcopalian who agrees with you.
Part II
How long has our current Book of Common Prayer been in use?
The fourth version of the prayer book since the U.S. Church fully took root in the United States in 1789, was adopted in 1979. The first prayer book for the Anglican Communion (our worldwide network) was published in 1549 during the reign of King Edward VI, and it sprang from England’s break with Rome.
The fourth version of the prayer book since the U.S. Church fully took root in the United States in 1789, was adopted in 1979. The first prayer book for the Anglican Communion (our worldwide network) was published in 1549 during the reign of King Edward VI, and it sprang from England’s break with Rome.
- When were the first women ordained in the Episcopal Church?
- What is the Daily Office in the Episcopal Church?
- What are the two main parts of our Holy Eucharist service?
- What are the four most common colors of the church year?
Part III
- What do the 20 windows on the upper north and south sides of St. Paul’s represent? Each of the windows illustrates a character of importance in England and/or the church during each century from the 1st through the 20th. The first window is the centurian, and you’ll also find King Arthur (the historical figure, not the mythological one) and Queen Victoria.
- What is a Proper? The Proper is the part of of our services that changes according to the season or festival. It includes the daily collect, Scripture readings, and the prefaces of the Communion service.
- What’s the difference between the Nicene Creed and the Apostles Creed? Age, for one thing, and specificity for another. The Apostles Creed is the oldest of the creeds, though no one is quite sure when it was written. It’s believed to have been recited in different forms at baptisms. The Nicene Creed was written at the Council of Nicea, in 325 AD, and one of its main purposes was to affirm that Christ is fully divine. (Some maintained at the time that Jesus was greater than human but not quite as great as God).
- Why do many Episcopal churches have red doors? The tradition began the Middle Ages in England, and the doors represented sanctuary. You were safe if you reached the door, and no violence could occur on sacred ground. The Church also didn’t have to follow civil law.
- How many years are in the Liturgical calendar cycle and when does the new year begin? Three years – A, B, C. Each year follows a Gospel (A-Matthew, B-Mark, C-Luke.) John is split among special Sundays in each year. New year’s day in the church is the first Sunday of Advent.
Part IV
What’s the difference between the Episcopal church and the Anglican church?
In some ways, the differences are big; in some ways, they’re nonexistent. The Episcopal Church -- rooted in the Church of England -- is an Anglican Church and part of the Worldwide Anglican Communion. That means it is Protestant and Catholic; celebrating Mass similar to the Roman Catholic tradition, yet not recognizing a single authority such as the pope.
One important shared feature of Anglicanism is The Book of Common Prayer, which is prayed in different languages around the world. It describes the main beliefs of the Church, outlines the requirements for the sacraments, and serves as a primary guideline for Episcopal life. Episcopalians believe God has given us intelligence and our own experience, a.k.a. “reason.”
But the label Anglican has also been adopted by more conservative American churches who split from the Episcopal Church in the late 20th and early 21st centuries largely over the issue of gay marriage and ordination of gay clergy; they remain in communion with Anglican churches in other parts of the world.
What’s a diocese in the Episcopal Church?
Like a lot of church terms, “diocese” stems from a secular word -- in this case the Roman Empire term for administrative subdivision. In the church today, it refers to the territorial jurisdiction of a diocesan bishop and to the congregations and members of that territory. Ohio has two dioceses, the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio and the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio. The Diocese of Ohio stretches from Youngstown to Toledo, from Lake Erie to Mansfield, and our Bishop is the Rt. Rev. Anne B. Jolly, the first woman to be elected to that post.
What’s the difference between a deacon and a priest?
Deacons and priests are two of three distinct orders of ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church. In ancient times, deacons often oversaw charity, and today the role emphasizes social care and service. There are also “transitional deacons” who are ordained as a step toward ordination as a priest (that’s how Mother Robin came to St. Paul’s). The term priest refers to a man or woman ordained “to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as pastor to the people; to proclaim the gospel; to administer the sacraments; and to bless and declare pardon in the name of God” (BCP, p. 856).
Why does our altar (and that of so many other churches) face East?
Some hold that the Bible predicts Jesus’ return will come from the East (Matthew 24:27 - "As the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.") Facing East also offers the parallel of Jesus rising again with the rising of the sun in the morning.
How many members are in the Episcopal Church?
In 2023, the Episcopal Church listed nearly 1.55 million members, though Pew Research estimates about 2.71 million people self-identify as Episcopalians. We have been known as the church of presidents – with 11 of our 46 presidents members of the Episcopal Church.
In some ways, the differences are big; in some ways, they’re nonexistent. The Episcopal Church -- rooted in the Church of England -- is an Anglican Church and part of the Worldwide Anglican Communion. That means it is Protestant and Catholic; celebrating Mass similar to the Roman Catholic tradition, yet not recognizing a single authority such as the pope.
One important shared feature of Anglicanism is The Book of Common Prayer, which is prayed in different languages around the world. It describes the main beliefs of the Church, outlines the requirements for the sacraments, and serves as a primary guideline for Episcopal life. Episcopalians believe God has given us intelligence and our own experience, a.k.a. “reason.”
But the label Anglican has also been adopted by more conservative American churches who split from the Episcopal Church in the late 20th and early 21st centuries largely over the issue of gay marriage and ordination of gay clergy; they remain in communion with Anglican churches in other parts of the world.
What’s a diocese in the Episcopal Church?
Like a lot of church terms, “diocese” stems from a secular word -- in this case the Roman Empire term for administrative subdivision. In the church today, it refers to the territorial jurisdiction of a diocesan bishop and to the congregations and members of that territory. Ohio has two dioceses, the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio and the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio. The Diocese of Ohio stretches from Youngstown to Toledo, from Lake Erie to Mansfield, and our Bishop is the Rt. Rev. Anne B. Jolly, the first woman to be elected to that post.
What’s the difference between a deacon and a priest?
Deacons and priests are two of three distinct orders of ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church. In ancient times, deacons often oversaw charity, and today the role emphasizes social care and service. There are also “transitional deacons” who are ordained as a step toward ordination as a priest (that’s how Mother Robin came to St. Paul’s). The term priest refers to a man or woman ordained “to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as pastor to the people; to proclaim the gospel; to administer the sacraments; and to bless and declare pardon in the name of God” (BCP, p. 856).
Why does our altar (and that of so many other churches) face East?
Some hold that the Bible predicts Jesus’ return will come from the East (Matthew 24:27 - "As the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.") Facing East also offers the parallel of Jesus rising again with the rising of the sun in the morning.
How many members are in the Episcopal Church?
In 2023, the Episcopal Church listed nearly 1.55 million members, though Pew Research estimates about 2.71 million people self-identify as Episcopalians. We have been known as the church of presidents – with 11 of our 46 presidents members of the Episcopal Church.
Our Vision
To be a growing, vibrant, inclusive, spiritual center for all the people of downtown Canton and surrounding areas.
Demonstrating the power of ministry through the love of God and the Christian faith.
Demonstrating the power of ministry through the love of God and the Christian faith.
What we believe
As Episcopalians, we believe in and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection saved the world.
We believe that God loves you – no exceptions.
The Episcopal Church embraces a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being; people of all genders and sexual orientations serve as bishops, priests, and deacons in our church. Laypeople and clergy work together in leadership and governance.
We believe that God loves you – no exceptions.
The Episcopal Church embraces a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being; people of all genders and sexual orientations serve as bishops, priests, and deacons in our church. Laypeople and clergy work together in leadership and governance.
Core to our Beliefs:Book of Common Prayer
“It is a most invaluable part of that blessed ‘liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,’ that in his worship different forms and usages may without offense be allowed, provided the substance of the Faith be kept entire” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 9).
The Book of Common Prayer is a treasure chest full of devotional and teaching resources for individuals and congregations, but it is also the primary symbol of our unity. We, who are many and diverse, come together in Christ through our worship, our common prayer.
The Bible
“Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 236).
The Bible is our foundation, understood through tradition and reason, containing all things necessary for salvation. Our worship is filled with Scripture from beginning to end. Approximately 70% of the Book of Common Prayer comes directly from the Bible.
Baptismal Covenant
“Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil and renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 292).
A mini-catechism used at baptisms and on Easter and other special occasions, the baptismal covenant opens with a question-and-answer version of the statement of faith that is the Apostles’ Creed and adds five questions regarding how we, as Christians, are called to live out our faith.
The Catechism
Offered in a question-and-answer format, the catechism found in the back of the Book of Common Prayer (pp. 845-862) helps teach the foundational truths of the Christian faith.
The Creeds
“The Creeds are statements of our basic beliefs about God” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 851).
In the two foundational statements of faith—the Apostles’ Creed used at baptism, and the Nicene Creed used at communion—we join Christians throughout the ages in affirming our faith in the one God who created us, redeemed us, and sanctifies us.
The Sacraments
“Sacraments are outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 857).
Besides baptism and the Eucharist (Holy Communion), the church recognizes other spiritual markers in our journey of faith.
Found in the Book of Common Prayer, these include:
- Confirmation (the adult affirmation of our baptismal vows), pp. 413-419
- Reconciliation of a Penitent (private confession), pp. 447-452
- Matrimony (Christian marriage), pp. 422-438
- Orders (ordination to deacon, priest, or bishop), pp. 510-555
- Unction (anointing with oil those who are sick or dying) pp. 453-467
Our Mission:
St. Paul’s is a exceptionally welcoming Episcopal community
in downtown Canton, grounded in faith, called by God’s Love
to minister to the world.
St. Paul’s is a exceptionally welcoming Episcopal community
in downtown Canton, grounded in faith, called by God’s Love
to minister to the world.