Anglican service upbeat despite lawsuit over property

Monday, Feb. 15, 2010
By Sue Nowicki

TURLOCK — "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation! O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation! All ye who hear, now to his temple draw near; praise him in glad adoration."

If the 67 parishioners at St. Francis Anglican Church here were troubled over last week's lawsuit seeking their property, they didn't show it as they fervently sang the traditional hymn Sunday.

The song has been around since the 1600s, nearly four centuries before a split hit the U.S. Episcopal Church over the interpretation of Scripture. Anglicans say they haven't abandoned their faith but have moved to the oversight of the biblically conservative Anglican church worldwide.

The biblically liberal Episcopalians say the Anglicans can leave, but the property was held in trust on behalf of the national Episcopal church, and thus belongs to it. Nationwide, more than 50 lawsuits have been filed to recover such property. the rest