What is the Apostolic Succession?
The Apostolic Succession is a simple concept. It means that today’s priest was ordained by a bishop who was consecrated by a bishop, who was consecrated by a bishop, and so forth right back to the time of the Apostles. There is a direct link back across two thousand years through the power of the Holy Spirit being passed down the generations. Thus it may come as a surprise to some people that the Church of England is a catholic church, as is the entire Anglican Communion throughout the world. Similarly the Orthodox Churches, and the Old Catholics are also catholic churches. Catholic Churches are also known as Episcopal churches, meaning that they are overseen by bishops in the Apostolic Succession. There are many churches and other Christian bodies throughout the world that are not catholic churches. In Britain they include Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Pentecostals, The United Reformed Church, the Salvation Army, the Free Churches and the Independent Churche
