Editing African Orthodox Church (section)

== History ==

The African Orthodox Church was founded on the belief that black [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Episcopalians]] should have a denomination of their own. Episcopal rector [[George Alexander McGuire]] was consecrated a bishop on September 28, 1921, who had served as Chaplain-General of the ''Universal Negro Improvement Association'' (U. N. I. A.), in [[Chicago]], Illinois, by an ''[[Episcopi vagantes|episcopus vagans]]'', Archbishop [[Joseph Rene Vilatte]], assisted by Bishop Carl A. Nybladh who had been consecrated by Vilatte. This placed Bishop McGuire in [[apostolic succession]], which was something he had greatly desired.<ref name="Mead, Frank S. 1995, pp. 128-129"/>

The [[United States Census Bureau]]'s ''Religious Bodies'', 1926 edition, first reported one denomination "which now has a thriving organization of congregations" derived from Vilatte, that "aspires to ultimate association with Eastern Orthodox Churches as a racial or national unit" and "does not desire any association with Old Catholic Churches"—the {{abbr|AOC|African Orthodox Church}}.<ref name="USBoC1929">{{cite encyclopedia|year=1929|title=Religious bodies: 1926|encyclopedia=Religious bodies|publisher=United States Government Printing Office|location=Washington, DC|url=http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015002601345?urlappend=%3Bseq=1087|access-date=April 24, 2013|author-link=United States Census Bureau|edition=1926|volume=2|pages=45–49, 1070|oclc=628203882|author=United States. Bureau of the Census|hdl=2027/mdp.39015002601345?urlappend=%3Bseq=1087}}</ref>{{rp|page=1070}} It had its episcopal see in New York City but incorporated in Florida. It claimed 13 organizations, with a membership of 1,508 without a church edifice. There was no organization reporting a parsonage. The number of ministers identified with the church was 30.<ref name="USBoC1929" />{{rp|pages=46–47}}

The African Orthodox Church of New York (AOCoNY) was another denomination first reported in 1926 within ''Religious Bodies''. It was incorporated in New York state) and also had its episcopal see in New York City. The {{abbr|AOCoNY|African Orthodox Church of New York}} was in a fellowship "strictly one of spiritual communion" with the {{abbr|AOC|African Orthodox Church}} and a distinct organization with "absolute independence." It claimed three organizations, with a membership of 717 with one church edifice. There was one organization reporting a parsonage. The number of ministers identified with the church was not reported.<ref name="USBoC1929" />{{rp|page=49}}

The African Orthodox Church originally attracted mostly [[Anglican]] [[West Indian]] immigrants. It spread to the South in 1925 when McGuire started a parish in [[West Palm Beach]], Florida. Two years later he consecrated an African, Daniel William Alexander, as Primate of the Province of [[South Africa]] and central and southern Africa. At this time McGuire was elected as [[patriarch]] with the title of Alexander I. The church then spread to [[British Uganda]] and [[British Kenya]], where it grew to about 10,000. A congregation also developed in [[Nassau, Bahamas]].<ref name="Brandreth1987" />{{rp|page=37}}

In 1932 a bishop of the church went to Uganda and ordained [[Ruben Spartus Mukasa]] and one of his associates there priests of the African Orthodox Church. However, a few years later, Mukasa and his followers decided to align with the [[Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria]]. Mukasa went to [[Alexandria]] and was ordained by the patriarch there, while the African Orthodox Church lost its connection in Uganda.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cnewa.org/mag-article-bodypg-us.aspx?articleID=3211 |title=history of Orthodoxy in Uganda |access-date=October 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200903/http://www.cnewa.org/mag-article-bodypg-us.aspx?articleID=3211 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The St. John William Coltrane Church in [[San Francisco]] was founded in 1971 and joined the AOC in 1982.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/01/us/01religion.html|title=Sunday Religion, Inspired by Saturday Nights|first=Samuel G.|last=Freedman|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 1, 2007}}</ref>