In 2018, a number of lay people newly arrived in South Bend began work on a new Anglican church plant, which was a mission of the Anglican Diocese of the Living Word. The first public service was an Evensong held on September 9, 2018, the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity, at First A.M.E. Zion (on Eddy Street by the University of Notre Dame). In October 2018, the church had its first service of Holy Communion and first visit by our bishop, the Rt. Rev. Julian Dobbs. In December 2018, the church began meeting at St. Paul’s Memorial United Methodist Church (on Colfax Avenue, near downtown South Bend).

In January 2019 the church held its first baptism. And in March 2019, Christ Church called its first rector, the Rev. Steven McCarthy. Under his oversight, adult catechesis began, and the church held its first four confirmations (administered by the Rt. Rev. Julian Dobbs). Pastor McCarthy served until August 2020.

Although the pandemic brought great suffering to many, it also brought the people of Christ Church Anglican closer together. While following the guidance from the civil authorities, we were able to continue all the essentials of our common life, including worshiping God and studying the Scriptures together. And in 2021, there were five baptisms and six confirmations, and children’s catechesis began.

Our current rector, the Rev. Steven Wedgeworth, began his ministry at Christ Church Anglican in January 2022. In 2022, the church began a monthly Sunday afternoon hymn sing, and added a second children’s catechesis class. In 2022, there were two baptisms and seventeen confirmations and receptions.

In 2023 there was another baptism, and there were twenty confirmations and receptions.

Today, Christ Church Anglican is a vibrant church centered on the gospel and the word of God, with a strong communal life, and beautiful, reverent worship in the Anglican tradition.