Who Gets Episcopal Property?
Episcopal church dispute heading to court as factions fight over property ownership
Date published: 2/9/2007
BY FRANK DELANO

First, the fight. Then, the separation. Then, lawyers filing papers in court about property.
A religious divorce is under way at a tiny church in the Northern Neck and at 14 other parishes in Virginia that recently voted to split from the Episcopal Church.

Members of St. Stephen's Church in Heathsville say they still speak to each other and occasionally play bridge together. In December, however, a majority of the congregation voted to sever its ties with the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and join a new Anglican group headed by an African archbishop.

In Heathsville, the Anglicans have claimed church property and changed the locks on the doors and the signs out front.

Ousted Episcopalians have elected new leaders and now worship with a new Episcopal rector at a Methodist church. Yesterday, the loyalists were cleaning up an old house in the village to serve--temporarily, they hope--as a parish hall. the rest