Religious Orders and Christian Communities
The Episcopal Church canonically recognizes 18 traditional orders and 14 Christian communities for men, women, or both. Religious Orders and Christian Communities serve the greater church in several ways. Many offer retreat houses and individual spiritual direction. Each community has a rule of life and is committed to prayer, life in community, and hospitality.
What is the difference between a Religious Order and a Christian Community?
A Christian Community of this Church is a society of Christians (in communion with the See of Canterbury) who voluntarily commit themselves for life, or a term of years, in obedience to their Rule and Constitution. (Title III, Canon 14, section 2)
A Religious Order of this Church is a society of Christians (in communion with the See of Canterbury) who voluntarily commit themselves for life, or a term of years, to holding their possessions in common or in trust; to a celibate life in community; and obedience to their Rule and Constitution. (Title III, Canon 14, section 1)
What is a regular worship routine for a monk or nun (i.e. a ‘religious’)?
While most lay people go to a church only once a week, Religious gather together four to seven times a day to worship and pray. The cycles of prayer that they follow have been practiced for centuries, are central to the Religious life, and are a gift to the life of the Church and all its members.
Below are some sample worship schedules. Note that different communities use ancient and modern names for the different “hours” of “offices” of the day.
Holy Cross Monastery, West Park, N.Y.
6:00 a.m. Matins
8:15 a.m. Great Silence ends
Eucharist (Wednesday – Saturday)
9:00 a.m. Eucharist (Sunday)
12:00 pm. Diurnum
5:00 p.m. Vespers
7:40 p.m. Compline
9:00 p.m. Great Silence begins
Community of St. John Baptist, Mendham, N.J.
7:30 a.m. Lauds (Morning Prayer Rite II)
(7:00 on Sundays & Festivals)
8:00 a.m. Eucharist
(7:30 on Sundays & Festivals)
9:30 a.m. Terce
11:55 a.m. Noonday Office
4:55 p.m Vespers
8:30 p.m Compline
Order of Saint Helena, North Augusta, S.C.
7:30 am Matins
8:00 am Holy Eucharist
12:00 noon Diurum (12:30 pm on Sunday)
5:00 pm Vespers
7:00 pm Compline
What orders and Christian communities are available?
The Episcopal Church canonically recognizes 18 traditional orders and 14 Christian communities for men, women, or both. Religious Orders and Christian Communities serve the greater church in several ways. Many offer retreat houses and individual spiritual direction. Each community has a rule of life and is committed to prayer, life in community, and hospitality. Each year, the work of this and related organizations is marked and celebrated on Religious Life Sunday.
Conference of Anglican Religious Orders in the Americas (CAROA)
CAROA includes 23 Religious Communities in the Americas that are part of the Worldwide Anglican (Episcopal) Communion. Some of these Orders are of men, some of women, and some include both. There is great diversity among our communities in terms of worship practice and standard of living, but all our communities embrace celibacy, community of goods, and obedience to a Rule and Constitution.
National Association of Episcopal Christian Communities (NAECC)
NAECC is a coalition of Christian Communities recognized under the canons of The Episcopal Church working with communities in formation, dedicated to sharing and communicating the fruits of the Gospel — realized in a community — with the church and the world.
