A HISTORY OF THE LIBERAL CATHOLIC CHURCH
The Rt. Rev. James Ingall Wedgwood, Dr. Annie Besant, The Rt. Rev G.S. Arundale and Rev. Oscar Kollerstrom with other clergy and servers in Naaden (Copyright the LCCinBI)
The Liberal Catholic Church was established in England in 1916 through a reorganization of the former Old Catholic Church in Great Britain, the new movement quickly spread to other countries, and in 1918 adopted its distinctive name, THE LIBERAL CATHOLIC CHURCH. Its Episcopal succession is derived from the Old Catholic Church of Holland through Archbishop Arnold Harris Mathew and his Auxiliary, Bishop Frederick Samuel Willoughby, the latter having been elected and consecrated "to safeguard the Succession." Archbishop Mathew ordained a number of Theosophists to the Priesthood, knowing that they were Theosophists and knowing about their philosophy. They had built up a congregation in London which was at that time (1915) the only congregation of the Old Catholic movement in England. In an about- face the Archbishop suddenly demanded that they all withdraw from membership in the Theosophical Society, and when they demurred at this breech of agreement, he bowed out and declared the whole movement "terminated".
This left them free to act as they should deem best, but without a bishop. Bishop Willoughby, who had been elected from among their number by their votes (though not a Theosophist), and from whom Archbishop Mathew had since parted company, passed on the Apostolic Succession to them by consecrating James Ingall Wedgwood to the Episcopate as Presiding Bishop of the now autonomous body, in London on February 13, 1916. He in turn consecrated Charles Webster Leadbeater to the Episcopate in Sydney, Australia in July of that year, and the Church rapidly spread over the world, being active in over 40 countries with more than 15 languages, continuing to grow in all of them. (All services are in the language of the people).
Although Theosophists played a major role in establishing this Church, the Church itself has no connection with the Theosophical Society or with any other philosophical school of thought. Clergy and members are free in such matters. All clergy are self-supporting, receiving no financial remuneration for their work. They are free to marry if they wish.
In 2003 there was schism in the Liberal Catholic Church worldwide. The main issue was the ordination of women to the Holy Orders. Some parishes in the Dutch, Belgium and Canada provinces who represented the "liberal" wing of the Liberal Catholic Church worldwide broke away to form a new Liberal Catholic movement. Since both the new and older movement call ourselves The Liberal Catholic Church, distinguishing between the two can be confusing.
In 2004 Regionary Bishop in the old movement for Sweden, Sten-Bertil Jakobson declared for the right of women to be ordained, and he joined the newly formed movement in the Netherlands and Belgium. He was followed by the Liberal Catholic Congregations in Austria, Demnark, Germany, Cameroon, and both Congos.
In 1982 Ernest W. Jackson had resigned from Province of Canada and started a group called The Liberal Catholic Church - Theosophia Synod. The group was always very small, but on May 15, 2005, under the leadership of John Schwarz III, they also joined with our progressive Dutch, Belgium and Canada branch of the LCC. Some members of the Theosophia Synod chose not to join us with their Bishop but to continue as an independent jurisdiction.
Later in December 2005 the Liberal Catholic Church in The British Isles came into being when the Independent British Synod joined this new progressive worldwide movement since then several new congregations have joined in various parts of the world. A current estimate of membership is in the tens of thousands.
Please note that we currently do not have links with any self proclamed Rites or Fellowships. Nor do we recognise other chuches cliaming to be Liberal Catholic and using grand titles. The Liberal Catholic Church only uses the tiltles of Rev. and Rt. Rev.
Rt. Rev.Charles Webster Leadbeater the second Presiding Bishop and Rt. Rev. James Ingall Wedgwood the first Presiding Bishop