Established as an Anglo-Catholic parish in 1868, Church of the Advent inherits a commitment to worship as sacramental embodiment, engaging the senses of sight, sound, taste, and even smell. Worship was not an end in itself, but “food for the mission” of reaching out to a world in need.
In England, the beauty of worship gave miners and mill-workers uplifting experiences in contrast to the dehumanizing mills where they worked. A vision of God’s kingdom inspired workers, along with clergy to advocate for social reform, including the creation of labor unions. In other parts of the world, Anglo-Catholics took leadership in combatting apartheid and advocating for civil rights.
Church of the Advent continues to be motivated by a deeply sacramental understanding of the incarnational presence of Christ both in the Holy Eucharist and in the flesh and blood of every human being.
Worship evolves as the needs of the world evolves, yet we continue to “worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” as a source of strength and motivation for mission to a hungry world — not only for physical and emotional needs, but for spiritual nourishment.
