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The Episcopal Free Communion The Episcopal Free Church The Free Protestant Episcopal Church of England - 1897
Pastoral Letter from the Primus Transmitting the Crozier
London, England, UK - March 10, 2025
Dear Sisters and Brothers and Friends of the Communion: I was never appreciative of ‘Hello’s’ or Farewells or beginnings and endings, as joy and sadness seem mingled together. But such are the ways things are in human experience. So, after a few years now I must adhere to our Communion’s Constitution, in my 80th year lay up my crozier as the Primus of our worldwide Communion. It has been a great joy to serve and witness to the everlasting Gospel of the One who can rescue this world from the troublous and chaotic state it is in. My tenure in Office has not always been easy. Tensions are rife in any interaction of human beings, and some did exist with friends and sisters and brothers breaking fellowship. Some of my decisions may have been wrong, others aimed at keeping the fellowship in harmony together. I pay tribute to all loyal clergy and workers in the field across the world. Their hardships were a sacrifice and self-offering. I commend the incoming Primus, The Most Rev’d Ricardo Lorite de Lima, Archbishop from Brazil, with all blessings as he takes command, and as St. Paul once wrote: ‘having preached to others I might be a castaway’. Well, being Emeritus is hardly that, but you get the point. Our Communion within the Catholic and Reformed Tradition spans many years. England, where it all began, was a different place. With the Empire Britain was well geared up to creating worldwide institutions. A different world now exists, and what was taken for granted is now consigned to the history books. But certain things have an eternal quality that goes on regardless. Well, thank you for your love and support; and as we say at the end of the Eucharist: Ite Missa Est, it is finished, in my leadership. But, please know I’m still around and will always offer support to the New Primus and People.
My love and blessings to all our people across our many provinces,
The Most Reverend Dr. Richard Arthur Palmer M.A, B.A, B.Ed, Cert.Ed, Dip.H.E, Order of the Transfiguration Archbishop Primus