In 1977, an international congress of nearly 2000 Anglican bishops, priests, and lay people met in St. Louis, Missouri, to take the actions necessary to establish an orthodox jurisdiction in which traditional Anglicanism would be maintained by returning to the fullness of the faith of the undivided Catholic Church. Acting according to the principles determined by the Seven Great Ecumenical Councils of the Ancient Church and adopting the name “Anglican Church in North America” they placed themselves under the jurisdiction of the Rt. Rev. Albert Chambers, retired bishop of Springfield.

In 1978, Bishop Chambers expanded that jurisdiction and devolved it upon others by taking order for the Consecration of four more bishops. In October of that year, the Church met in synod to adopt a formal constitution which included the change of name to the Anglican Catholic Church.

Today the ACC is a world-wide body with dioceses in the Americas, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Haiti, and India.