Protestant Episcopal Church

Episcopal Church, Protestant, U.S. Christian denomination formed of the remnants of the colonial Church of England after the American Revolution. Its first general convention was held in Philadelphia in 1789. The church now has 100 dioceses and a membership of some 2.5 million. It is governed by the triennial General Convention, composed of a House of Bishops and a House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. The Episcopal Church is part of the Anglican Communion, and in recent years has been prominent in the ecumenical movement.

See also: Protestantism.