The Episcopal Church history

1817: General Convention authorizes founding of General Theological Seminary in New York City.

1823: Diocese of Virginia establishes second Episcopal seminary, Virginia Theological Seminary, in Alexandria.

Philander Chase, a bishop in the Episcopal Church, helped establish Kenyon College in Gambier in 1824.

1833: Oxford Movement (Anglo-Catholic) begins in England.

1839: Diocese of VA establishes first high school in Virginia, Episcopal High School (adjacent to VTS).

In 1861, the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Confederate States of America was established, in every way the same as before except for its name change and its loyalty to the Confederacy.

Seven months after the fall of Richmond in 1865, the Confederate group quietly disbanded following the national convention which had been held a scant month before.

The church also took a regular part in the Lambeth Conference, periodic meetings of the bishops of the Anglican Communion that began in 1867.

1873: Evangelical, “low church”-oriented Reformed Episcopal Church founded.

1885: House of Bishops adopts Chicago Quadrilateral.

General Convention approves Quadrilateral in 1886.

In June of 1887, agents of the Lincoln Land Company, a subsidiary of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad bought most of the school section where Alliance was later built.

On February 25, 1888, public sale of lots around those already purchased by the Lincoln Land Company for railroad purposes, took place.

The Nebraska Stockgrowers Association began in Alliance in 1889 as a way to combat a major problem with cattle rustling.

The census of 1890, only two years after the founding of Alliance gave the town a population of 840.

In a special election held on May 31, 1893, a majority vote was made for a bond issue to construct a water system.

Locomotive #719, built at the Havelock, Nebraska shops about 1903, was used for most of its half century on the Burlington’s Alliance Division.

In 1913 Alliance celebrated its 25th Anniversary.

1919: National Council (now Executive Council) established by General Convention.

The population of Alliance in 1920 reached nearly 6000 and Alliance was considered “The Queen City of the Plains.”

In 1921 Alliance became the first city in Nebraska to change to the Council/Manager form of government.

1928: Revised Book of Common Prayer includes language updates and new translation of Psalms. "Love, honor, and obey" dropped from the bride's vows in the service of Holy Matrimony.

Alliance was not devastated by the Great Depression of the 1930’s.

In 1942, the Alliance Air Base was built on former farm and ranch land southeast of Alliance.

1944: Henry St George Tucker becomes church’s first fulltime Presiding Bishop.

In 1949, Alliance and the whole Great Plains area was engulfed in major snowstorms that became known as one – The Blizzard of ’49.

The 1950’s and 60’s will be known for their growth in industry and manufacturing plants in Alliance.

In 1953 the City of Alliance received the deed of ownership to the Air Base which had become the Alliance Municipal Airport.

1961: John Hines of Texas elected Presiding Bishop.

The 86-ton engine, donated by CB&Q to the City of Alliance in 1962 and refurbished by Burlington Northern volunteers.

The 1970’s and 80’s will be known for the growth of the Burlington Northern Railroad in Alliance.

1973: John Allin of Mississippi elected Presiding Bishop for 12 year term.

1974: First eleven women ordained to priesthood in 'irregular" service in Philadelphia.

After 1976, the eleven ordinations were regularized when the General Convention allowed women to be eligible for ordination to both the priesthood and the episcopate.

1979: Second reading approves new (present) Prayer Book.

In the late 1980’s ECF changed its method of operations inherited from Sherrill to a more programmatic portfolio.

While relatives were gathered following the death of Reinders’ father in 1982, the discussion turned to a memorial and the idea of a Stonehenge replica was developed.

1985: Edmond Browning of Hawaii elected Presiding Bishop for12 year term.

By 1988 the Burlington had reached burgeoning Alliance, planned as a railroad junction and named by B&M engineer J.N. Paul.

1989: Barbara Harris consecrated first woman bishop in Anglican Communion.

As Alliance entered the 1990’s, BNSF had a skilled labor force that was beginning to use technology to a great extent.

1995: $2.2-million embezzlement by church’s treasurer, Ellen Cooke, uncovered.

1997: Frank Griswold of Chicago elected Presiding Bishop for 9-year term.

As the years went into the 2000’s, Alliance continued to evolve and one of these was in the healthcare industry.

Convention also approves "Called to Common Mission," revised version of Lutheran Concordat, establishing full communion between ELCA and ECUSA effective January 1, 2001.

2003: General Convention approves the Diocese of New Hampshire's election of the Rev.

Williams issued a rebuke of the ECUSA for breaking the 2004 moratorium, and the Anglican Communion imposed sanctions on the ECUSA, barring it from participating in ecumenical dialogue and removing its decision-making powers in matters of church doctrine.

The museum is in a rebuilding phase that started in 2006 in which the building had a $4 million dollar rennovation.

In 2007 the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) was instituted as “an Anglican missionary effort in the United States” under Peter J. Akinola, archbishop of the Church of Nigeria and a harsh vocal critic of Robinson’s election as bishop.

Box Butte General Hospital continued to expand and by spring 2008 has added a new Medical Arts Plaza.

In 2009 these delegates met again in Bedford, Texas, and formed the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). The new church claimed 700 parishes in 28 dioceses in the United States and Canada.