Our parish is...
Liturgical
Everything we do finds its origin and purpose in worship. We worship according to the historic order of the Church, received through the tradition of the English reformation.
Sacramental
We hold that Baptism and the Lord's Supper are not only outward signs, but instruments of God's grace, instituted by Christ himself and sustained by his presence.
Missional
God sends us into the world to be living members of the Body of Christ. For this reason, we seek to make our work an act of worship, and our lives a witness to God's love.
Evangelical
We believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. We submit to the final authority of Holy Scripture, and we acknowledge the continuing presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
Where we came from
In 1994 the people of Rwanda sent out a worldwide call for help during a brutal genocide. No one responded. Out of the ashes of that global failure, Emmanuel Kolini, (then) Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Rwanda (Province de L’Eglise Anglicane au Rwanda, or PEAR) made a commitment never to refuse help if asked.
In 1998 a group of American Anglicans, recognizing the need for revitalization and reform in the Church, called out to the worldwide Anglican Communion for help. Rwanda responded.
Three years later, God stirred the hearts of a handful of people in our city to come under this revitalized leadership, and in 2003, Church of the Apostles was born.
For more than a decade, PEAR provided us with oversight, encouragement, guidance, and inspiration. In June of 2016, (the Most Revd) Onesphore Rwaje, (then) Archbishop of Rwanda, formally transferred all PEARUSA parishes to the oversight of (the Most Revd) Foley Beach, Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). This move from PEAR to ACNA was an important step for Christian unity in the USA, but we will always be grateful for the Church of Rwanda: their courageous and costly oversight helped to make our church what it is today.
where we're headed
One hallmark of a growing and vibrant church is its ability to plant other churches that will minister to under-served communities. Over the years, we have identified, trained, and sent out clergy to plant or revitalize parishes all around the country. Fr Aaron Burt moved to Seattle, WA to plant a new church; Fr Greg Goebel went to Atlanta to revitalize the Church of the Resurrection in Woodstock; Fr David Browder moved to Houston and now is the Rector of St Thomas; Fr Hule Goddard moved back to Wilmore, KY, to plant the Wilmore Anglican Fellowship; and Fr Tracey Roberts is working to revitalize St Paul's, Lynn Haven, FL. Fr Dan Wolf went from Apostles to Jacksonville, FL where his is Associate Priest at Grace Church; Fr Rob Goebel (Greg's brother!) is serving as Rector of St Peter's, Canton, IL; and we planted a now fully independent church closer to home in Lexington, SC, led by Fr Josh Fink. To learn more about All Souls Lexington, please visit allsoulslex.com.
We also aim to grow strong as a congregation here in Columbia. Our church building already serves as a place of weekly and daily worship, an space for Christian education and formation, a place of joyful fellowship between parishioners, and a place where the homeless and those in need are welcomed. We hope that our campus will continue to grow as a center for worship, ministry, and mission for many years to come.
Becoming a Cathedral
In September, 2014, Church of the Apostles was made the pro-cathedral for the Southeastern Network of PEARUSA. A cathedral serves as the center of a bishop's activity, and a central location for a diocese or jurisdiction. The clergy of a cathedral, called "Dean" and "Canons", serve not only the local congregation, but the diocese as well. The elevation to cathedral status was a great honor for us.
When we became part of the Diocese of the Carolinas in 2016, we were asked to continue to serve as the cathedral for the diocese. For more information about the Diocese of the Carolinas at their website here.
History
Church of the Apostles began as a part of the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA), the American missionary jurisdiction of the Anglican Church of Rwanda (PEAR) under (the Rt Revd) Chuck Murphy. In a season of challenge, we decided to remain with Rwanda as a part of PEARUSA In June of 2016 (the Most Revd) Onesphore Rwaje, Archbishop of Rwanda, formally transferred all three networks of PEARUSA to the Anglican Church in North America, and its archbishop, (the Most Revd) Foley Beach. The clergy and churches in Bishop Bryan’s network chose to affiliate with the Diocese of the Carolinas. Bishop David was elected Suffragan Bishop (a type of assisting bishop) of the Diocese. He serves under the diocesan bishop, (the Rt Revd) Steve Wood.
our bishops
(THE Most REVD) STEVE WOOD
Bishop, Diocese of the Carolinas; Rector, St Andrew’s Church, Mt Pleasant, SC; and Archbishop, ACNA
Bishop Wood was elected the first Bishop of the Diocese of the Carolinas by the College of Bishops on June 5, 2012, and consecrated on August 25, 2013.
He was elected as the second Archbishop of the ACNCA in June of 2024.
He was previously installed as Rector of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Mt. Pleasant, SC on September 1, 2000. Under Bishop Wood’s leadership, St. Andrew’s was described by the Charleston Post & Courier as, “one of the Lowcountry’s biggest church success stories,” growing to a membership of more than 3200 and planting new churches in Goose Creek, SC and downtown Charleston.
Bishop Wood earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Cleveland State University in 1986, and completed his priestly formation at the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia where he earned a Masters of Divinity.
Bishop Wood was married to Jacqueline Elizabeth (Benner) Wood on February 1, 1986. Together, they have four sons, one grandson and one granddaughter.
(THE RT REVD) DAVID BRYAN
Bishop Suffragan, Diocese of the Carolinas
Bishop Bryan was consecrated a bishop at the Cathedral Church of the Apostles in Columbia, SC on the 18th of September, 2013 to serve as the bishop for Southeast PEARUSA. In May, 2016, Bishop Bryan was elected Bishop Suffragan to the Diocese of the Carolinas. He also serves as Assisting Bishop to the Gulf Atlantic Diocese and the Anglican Diocese of the South.
Bishop Bryan is a graduate of the University of Florida (BSBA ’79), and Trinity School for Ministry (M. Div. ’83) where he has continued post graduate studies. He has been in ordained ministry for 33 years, serving several churches in Florida and South Carolina: St. Michael’s Episcopal, Orlando, FL, Assistant Rector; Church of the Good Shepherd, Jacksonville, FL, Associate Rector; Church of St. Luke and St. Peter, St. Cloud, FL, Rector; All Saints Church, Pawleys Island, SC, Sr. Pastor; Christ Church, Murrells Inlet, SC, Church Planter & Sr. Pastor/Rector.
Bishop Bryan and his wife, Nancy, have been married for over 30 years and have three grown children: Collins (Ali), Tricia (Nic) and Duncan (Hayley).
The Anglican Communion
The Anglican Church is one of the three historic churches in the catholic tradition (along with the Church of Rome and the Eastern Church). Anglicanism is the result of the Church of England being revitalized and transformed by the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. That “Reformed Catholic” tradition has been passed down through the Church of England, and received by autonomous churches (called "Provinces") all over the globe. Though these churches are diverse in many ways, there are certain core beliefs and practices held in common.
Perhaps the simplest summary of Anglican identity is known as the "Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral." It holds that there are four foundational affirmations which unite Anglicans.
The Scriptures
The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as containing all things necessary to salvation and being the rule and ultimate standard of faith.
The Creeds
The Apostles' Creed as the Baptismal Symbol and the Nicene Creed as the sufficient statement of the Christian faith.
The Sacraments
The two Sacraments ordained by Christ himself--Baptism and the Supper of the Lord--ministered with unfailing use of Christ's words of Institution, and of the elements ordained by him.
The Episcopate
The historic Episcopate locally adapted in the methods of its administration to the varying needs of the nations and peoples called of God into the Unity of His Church.
In addition to these four affirmations, Anglican worship is guided by The Book of Common Prayer (2019), and Anglican belief is guided by the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571).
Our Province: The ACNA
On April 16, 2009 the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) was recognized as a province of the global Anglican Communion by the Primates of the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, with the intent of renewing biblical, orthodox Anglicanism in North America. Despite being a new province, the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) already unites 112,000 Anglicans in nearly 1,000 congregations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico into a single Church.
ARCHBISHOP OF THE ACNA
(the Most Revd Dr) Foley Beach was elected the second Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America on June 22, 2014. He is also the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the South, headquartered in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia.
Archbishop Beach is a graduate of Georgia State University, the University of the South, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He began his ministry by serving teenagers through Young Life. Prior to serving as bishop, he planted Holy Cross Anglican Church in Loganville, Georgia.
Archbishop Beach can be heard on radio stations in the U.S. and around the world via his teaching ministry, A Word from the Lord, and his One-Minute Message, an evangelism outreach to the unchurched.
He and his wife are life-long Georgians, and have two adult children.