Falls Church Anglican Group Ends Church Stay

Thousands of members of a historic church in northern Virginia are holding their final Sunday services in their centuries-old home after losing a long-running court battle.

Members of The Falls Church Anglican, a congregation of 4,000 worshipers, have been ordered to vacate the historic church property for which the city of Falls Church is named. The congregation traces its roots back to George Washington.

The congregation went through a nasty split precipitated by divisions within The Episcopal Church over the ordination of a gay bishop and other theological issues.

The congregation vacating the property aligned with more conservative forces and now considers itself Anglican. The liberal, continuing Episcopalians will be moving back in.

The conservative congregation plans to find a new home for its ministry.