[Episcopal News Service] Congregations across The Episcopal Church opened their churches or facilitated watch parties March 25 so people could gather to view a livestream of the historic service installing the Most Rev. Sarah Mullally as archbishop of Canterbury.

In the Diocese of Lexington, about a dozen ordained women watched and celebrated Mullally’s installation and used their time together to show their support for women bishops in The Episcopal Church.

The Rev. Amy Chambers Cortright, the diocese’s canon to the ordinary, told Episcopal News Service that she and the Rev. Becca Kello, the diocese’s canon missioner, thought that women who came to watch the installation service might want to do something more. “The idea was that we would reach out to women who are currently serving in the episcopate, to write them notes of encouragement, love and support,” she said.

After the service, Cortright told ENS, “It has been very moving to share this occasion with one another – and lots of fun. We are grateful for each other and for Archbishop Sarah.”

Other events at Episcopal congregations stretched from Bangor, Maine, to Seward, Alaska, a straight-line distance of more than 3,300 miles. Here are some highlights:

• St. John’s Episcopal Church in Bangor, Maine opened its undercroft for a gathering that included tea and scones while participants watched the Church of England’s livestream.
• In Rockland, Maine, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church posted to social media inviting people to a “pop-up watch party” for the event.
• Trinity on the Green Episcopal Church in New Haven, Connecticut, welcomed people to watch in the church’s Undercroft Library.
• St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Canton, Ohio, served crumpets and prosecco to those watching, noting on Facebook the day before, “it’s taken us about 1,500 years, but tomorrow the Anglican Communion worldwide celebrates the installation of the first woman as archbishop of Canterbury.”
• At St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Berkeley, California, people arrived early in the morning to watch the service. One member reported that the music director dubbed the gathering “Breakfast with Sarah.”
• St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Seward, Alaska, arranged with the Seward Senior Center to make its large-screen TV available for a viewing party. To celebrate “the first woman to take the cathedra of St. Augustine,” the church provided a continental breakfast.
• Saint Anthony on the Desert Episcopal Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, offered snacks, drinks and good company for its gathering. Noting that the installation service would be a grand event, they told attendees to expect “fantastic music, ancient ritual and hats that make the Kentucky Derby look like a Tuesday at the Tractor Supply store.” The visual trip to Canterbury, England, it said, would require no passport and “no lines at TSA.”

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