In 2011, a group of parishioners who were unhappy with their former place of worship, decided to organize their own congregation, which is now known as Holy Angels Anglican Catholic Church in Picayune.
“They felt that their particular needs weren’t being addressed,” Fr. Larry Wagoner said. “We met in a member’s home for about a year and a half. The church was officially founded in 2011.”
The Anglican Church came from the former Church of England, Wagoner said. The Anglican Catholic Church was founded in 1977 and adheres to the “The Affirmation of St. Louis,” which lists the differences between Orthodox Anglicans and the Episcopal Church.
The church is considered Catholic because it adheres to the three original creeds and seven ecumenical councils of the church, Wagoner said. The church maintains a three-fold ministry of deacons, priests and bishops to which men may be ordained.
Wagoner now delivers his sermons in a converted two-car garage.
Many of the members asked Wagoner if he would be their minister, Wagoner said.
“I called the now retired Bishop D. Presley Hutchens of the Diocese of New Orleans and asked him if he would take on another parish,” Wagoner said. “He said yes, as long as I would lead. I trained for six months in New Orleans under the tutelage of the Rev. Canon John Hollister and Fr. Dean Donald Rice.”
After six months of intensive training, Wagoner was ordained a deacon at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Picayune in 2012. The Bishop asked Wagoner if he read canons and soon Wagoner was on his way to becoming a priest.
“Normally, it takes a year to become a priest, but an exception was made for me and after six months I was ordained the priest of Holy Angels.”
Wagoner is also a supply or substitute priest at Christ Church in Metairie, Louisiana.
“It was not until about 10 years ago that I that I received the calling to minister,” Wagoner said. “I served as a senior and junior warden in the Episcopal Church, was lead tenor in the choir and choir director. I was also a Lay Eucharistic minister part A and B.”
During the week, Wagoner is Mental Health Director at both the Pearl River County and Hancock County jails. He holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Wagoner said Holy Angels currently has about 18 regular attendees and 22 members. The congregation is currently looking for a permanent building to hold worship services.
Holy Angels is located at 51 Lorentz Drive.
Worship services are held every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and Thursday at 5 p.m.
For more information, contact Fr. Wagoner at 601-590-0553.
Join the group on Facebook at Holy Angels Anglican Church.
Visit the church’s website at http://www.holyangels-church.org/.