Anglicanism is a short-hand reference to English Catholicism. Put another way, it is a historic expression of the Christian faith rooted in Holy Scripture, shaped by the ancient creeds, and ordered by episcopal leadership. The word “Anglican” was originally a reference to the Christians in Britian, but it is now used to reference all Christians who are English Catholic (as opposed to Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox).
Anglican churches gather around the Bible, their highest authority, and Sacrament (i.e., "mystery"). The word sacrament translates the Greek mystērion (μυστήριον), which in Scripture refers to the revealed mystery of communion with Christ—“the mystery… which is Christ in you” (Col 1:26–27) and “the mystery of faith” confessed in the Church (1 Tim 3:9)—made visible and participatory in Word and Sacrament.
Anglicans are protestants and non-denominational, yet they do not have a set of beliefs of their own. Instead, like the whole Church, they affirm the catholic faith expressed in the Nicene Creed, the Apostles’ Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. Finally, Anglicans follow the pattern of historic liturgy expressed in the Book of Common Prayer (born out of the liturgy in the heavenly temple [cf. Ex 25:8–9]).
St. Augustine of Canterbury is a parish within the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), a province within the global Anglican Communion committed to historic Christian doctrine and apostolic order.
We are part of the Anglican Diocese of All Nations (ADAN), a diocese within the ACNA. We are a diverse group of Christians worshipping together in the Anglican tradition. Our churches range from old to new, high to low, predominantly African to predominantly Anglo. What holds us together is our commitment to the Gospel, the authority of Scripture, and the Body of Christ gathered where the Word of God is faithfully preached and the Sacraments duly administered.
Bishop Felix Orji is the Diocesan Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of All Nations (ADAN). The Anglican Diocese of All Nations is home to parishes in the United States and Canada.
Early in his life, Bishop Felix Orji made a decision to follow and serve Christ as the Savior and Lord of his life. The result of this decision as a teenager was a commitment to the call of God on his life to serve Christ as a minister of the gospel of God's grace. This led him to ordained ministry in the Anglican Church in Canada and the USA as a priest and now as a Bishop of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). He completed a BA degree with honors at the University of Ife in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, and received a Master’s degree at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. He earned a Diploma in Christian Studies from Regent College, Vancouver, BC, and a Master of Divinity from Vancouver School of Theology in Canada. Dr. Orji also earned a Doctorate in Leadership and Evangelism from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary at the Charlotte, North Carolina.
Bishop Orji, who is currently the Bishop Protector of the Order of St. Benedict, was ordained in 1996 in the Diocese of New Westminster, Anglican Church of Canada. He served his curacy at All Saints Anglican Church in Burnaby, BC and afterwards as Associate rector at St. Johns Shaughnessy in Vancouver, BC, the largest evangelical Anglican parish in Canada. In 2004, he moved to the Diocese of the Rio Grande in the USA where he served a parish for a year. He was also the Coordinator of the Anglican Fellowship of the Southwest till 2010 which finally became the Diocese of the Southwest.
In 2005, Dr. Orji became associate rector of St. Francis on the Hill in El Paso, and Rector from 2008 to August 2015. In September 2011, he was consecrated Bishop by the Anglican Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) to serve in the USA and Canada.
Our Bishop's vision and prayer is that the Holy Spirit will make it possible for us to go DEEPER with God, get CLOSER to one another, and go FURTHER in our impact in our community and the world.
The Right Reverend Dr. Felix Orji and his wife Lilian have four children, Cara, John, Jadon, and Justin.
Father Ryan is the Rector of St. Augustine of Canterbury Anglican Church in Denver, serving within the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) and the Anglican Diocese of All Nations. He was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood by Bishop Felix Orji.
Before starting St. Augustine’s, he served as Curate at St. Mary’s Anglican Catholic Church and, before that, as Curate at St. George’s Anglican Church in Colorado Springs. His ministry is rooted in teaching the Scriptures (something he considers a joy), sacramental worship, and building a strong parish community.
Prior to ordained ministry, Father Ryan served as a United States Navy corpsman, stationed with the Marine Corps on three occasions. Alongside parish ministry, he works as a photographer (denvernaturallightphotographer.com) and a Chief Marketing Officer for Zonzon, a tech company.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry and a Master of Divinity, and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Old Testament at Denver Seminary, with plans for doctoral research in Old Testament and liturgical theology. His academic work centers on Leviticus, Hebrews, sacred space, and the necessity of historic corporate worship practices today.
Originally from Guam, Father Ryan brings a global and cross-cultural perspective to ministry. He and his wife have two sons (with another on the way). When not working or studying, he rides BMX, preferring big dirt jumps and big stair sets.
Father Ryan can be reached at:
fatherryan@anglicancatholicchurchdenver.org
X: @TheReverendRyan
Instagram: @casonbmx
Below is a full Mass from St. Augustine of Canterbury Anglican Church. As a newly established and growing parish in Denver, we are building a community centered on reverent liturgy, biblical preaching, and the Holy Eucharist.
Within the Mass, we incorporate a time of praise, singing both classic Anglican hymns and traditional American gospel hymns. These gospel hymns are authentically American, and as a parish planted in the United States, we believe it is fitting to offer worship that is both truly catholic and rooted in our own cultural setting. Just as many Nigerian parishes within our diocese incorporate Nigerian-influenced music—including keys, drums, and guitars—while remaining fully catholic, we likewise embrace worship that is faithful to the historic Church and reflective of our American context.
At the moment, as a new church plant, we do not yet have a choir. As the parish grows and a choir is formed, we will continue to sing both Anglican hymns and gospel hymns as a part of our life of worship. Interested in leading the choir? E-mail Father Ryan at fatherryan@anglicancatholicchurchdenver.org.
St. Augustine of Canterbury Anglican Church
Anglican Church in North America (ACNA)
Anglo-Catholic parish in Denver, CO
Sundays at 2:00 PM
Eisenhower Chapel
293 Roslyn St., Denver, CO