New Anglican Sect Makes New Home In Amesbury

A breakaway group of former Episcopalians is set to make Amesbury the seat of its new diocese, the Anglican Church in North America.

The congregation arose from the controversy surrounding the ordination of an openly gay bishop by the Episcopal Church several years ago.

Now, more than 100 bishops and delegates of the break-off church will gather this week in Amesbury.

Bishop William Murdoch says the new church is not meant to exclude.

"It's not at all the establishment of something to further separate or disassociate people," Murdoch said, "but rather the affirmation of a very basic belief in the Christian faith as we've received it and known it for 2,000 years."

Later this week, leaders will officially turn a former Roman Catholic Church in Amesbury into the official seat of the Anglican New England bishop.