Anglican Congregation Of St. Bartholomew’s formerly of the DWNY Purchases New Worship Space

Jackie Bruchi posted this at Stand Firm:

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 • 11:30 am

Members of the area’s largest Episcopal congregation have established a new religious corporation and purchased a former synagogue in the Town of Tonawanda, as they move ahead with plans to split from the Diocese of Western New York.

The purchase of the former Temple Beth El complex at 2368 Eggert Road was finalized Friday.

St. Bartholomew’s Christian Church paid $750,000 for the 37,000-square-foot facility and expects to make another $125,000 in changes and improvements, said the Rev. Arthur W. Ward Jr., longtime rector of St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church.

The congregation is joining hundreds of parishes around the country that have abandoned the liberal-leaning Episcopal Church over such issues as interpretation and authority of scripture, the path to salvation and acceptance of same-sex marriages.

But the congregation voted near unanimously not to try to retain property at Brighton and Fries Road, where it has been worshipping since 1960.

In this state, defecting congregations typically have lost in legal battles with dioceses to hang onto the property.

The former synagogue, less than a mile from the current location, became available after Temple Beth El merged in May with Temple Shaarey Zedek on Getzville Road in Amherst.

The congregation, which Ward will continue to lead, ultimately plans to refer to itself as St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church.

Ward and other parish clergy have asked Bishop J. Michael Garrison of the Diocese of Western New York for a transfer to the Diocese of Argentina, which is part of the province of the Southern Cone in the Worldwide Anglican Communion. The province is sympathetic to American churches that disagreed with the 2003 consecration of an openly gay bishop in the United States.