The Anglican Independent Communion UK

Authorised Website

The AIC in the Province of the Britain and Northern Ireland.

Who are we, and Why us?

These are good and valid questions, and we are pleased to explain; after all there are very many Churches. Why should you be interested in us? What have we to offer that other Churches can’t offer, or in some cases just don’t want to offer?

Let’s start at the beginning:

This Church has its roots in the Church of England, and retains some similarities. It is however, independent of Lambeth, and has its own separate channels for appointments, authority and jurisdiction.

In the 1970’s A number of Anglican clergy became restless and unhappy, and could not accept the relentless liberalising agenda of their church. These Priests started looking for another way of preserving their inherited Anglicanism, which they regarded as a standard Protestantism derived from Catholicism, that had been handed down through the generations since the Reformation.

The Anglican inheritance that these clergy determined to preserve was the tradition of an all- male Priesthood, and an application system that required the disclosure of an applicant’s sexual orientation, and a selection procedure that automatically rejected practising homosexuals from ordination.

The Anglican liturgy was also under review in the 1970’s. New Services were being introduced via the ASB, and although this publication was intended to be used in conjunction with the BCP, not all the older clergy approved of the subtle changes.

In consequence some clergy resigned from the Lambeth Communion, and the Anglican Independent Communion was born; immediately attracting an international flood of Ordained Clergy for incardination, and applications from prospective Ordinands, and Readers, from a diversity of denominations.

Whole Churches from around the world have changed their allegiances since the AIC was born, bringing thousands of worshippers into our communion. Thirty years on, this continues to be the norm.

Why do they come to us? - Because we have a mandate for Christian stability in a changing world, a passion to Serve, a modern Constitution, a Governing Document, and a clear no-nonsense Child Protection Policy. Please scroll down and see what we stand for, and what we do.

Today the AIC Worldwide is bursting with enthusiastic drive, and is a thriving and growing International Communion. --------It’s not surprising that it is growing worldwide, because it is an anchor of stability and morality in a confused and decadent society.

Through its outreach; the AIC meets young and old of all nationalities at their point of need. So why not join us, and be part of an international success story? We would be delighted to welcome you into our family, wherever and whoever you are.

The Founder, the late Rt Rev'd Dr Peter Compton-Caputo

The late Bishop, The Rt Rev'd Dr Peter A Compton-Caputo founded the Anglican Independent Communion Worldwide in 1997. He was born in 1934 in Manhattan, and attended schools in that City before enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1951, serving with them for the next 5½ years, after which he became a serving Police Officer in Grand Rapids in the State of Michigan.

+Peter later went into local government work, and held posts in Ypsilanti in the State of Michigan, New York State, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. +Peter's career in the church began in Schenectady, New York. After a period of training, he was Ordained as a Deacon in the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States in January 1977. Some time later he was made a Priest, giving as his reason for the delay, that he was enjoying the job of a Deacon so much, that he did not want the problems and responsibilities that came with the Priesthood and running a parish. He enjoyed having '..all the fun without the responsibility'!

Birth of the Anglican Independent Communion

In 1997 the Congregation and Vestry of St Paul's Church voted to withdraw from this group as a result of problems which had occurred within it. And so The Anglican Independent Communion was born and +Peter was joined by a number of other disillusioned congregations through out the United States and elsewhere.

Securing the Succession

In July 2001 +Peter invited The Rt Rev'd Dr Norman S Dutton, who had been consecrated as Bishop in Anglia (England) at St. Paul's Crownsville in 1999, to accept the vacant position of Co-adjutor Bishop (+Peter's designated successor), a position which +Norman accepted with some reluctance due to the distance between England and the United States. However, due to the poor state of +Peter's health +Norman agreed; it was also agreed that Archdeacon The Venerable John W Gains, Rector of St James' Anglican Parish, Delaware, would be consecrated as a Bishop in the United States, so that much of the heavy workload could be taken off +Peter's shoulders. This consecration took place at St Paul's, with Bishops Norman S. Dutton and Colin R Tatem acting as Co-consecrators in absentia.

A few short weeks later on the 15^th August 2001 +Peter was called to higher service as a result of complications directly associated with the diabetic condition which had plagued him for many years. +Peter was laid to rest in the Cemetery at his beloved St Paul's Chapel.

The Division of the Communion into Provinces

Following the passing of Bishop Peter, conversations took place between the Bishops of the Communion, and it was agreed that subject to the approval of the Churches and Clergy, the Communion should be divided into Provinces for ease of administration.

Access to the AIC website is subject to your agreement to the following:

The AIC Worldwide web site is designed for information purposes only. You are granted access to these pages conditional upon your agreement to indemnify the constituent bodies of the AIC and not to hold them liable, in any way, for the results of any action you may take, based upon the material contained herein. We are governed by English Law and all matters between us in relation to this web site, or any claims or disputes arising out of, or in connection with this web site, shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England . All materials in this site is copyright © Anglican Independent Communion Worldwide, The Archbishop and the College of Bishops