The historical collection of The Archives of The Episcopal Church will be closed for research beginning Jan. 1 as the Archives relocates to a permanent home in Oakwood, Georgia, in early 2027. The staff anticipates the collection will be reopened by May 1.
Those with immediate research needs as they draft reports for the 82nd General Convention are encouraged to reach out to the Archives soon through the Research Request Form.
Other internal historical research will be prioritized and completed if feasible. External researchers will be directed to other resources or asked to follow up later in 2027.
The Archives website will continue to be available for research, and everyone is encouraged to begin their research by accessing the Digital Archives, Governance Records, and Virtual Reading Room before contacting the Archives for additional primary source research.
Established by the General Convention in 1835, The Archives of The Episcopal Church is the repository for thousands of documents and artifacts spanning centuries of church history. Its online catalog includes more than 200 curated sections of the collections held by The Archives; and its digital archives contain General Convention resolutions and Executive Council resolves, among other offerings.
The Archives occupied space at Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas, for 60 years before leasing a warehouse in Austin in 2021. Twenty years ago, the church’s General Convention passed a resolution initiating efforts to relocate The Archives, affirmed again in 2012. Describing the need as acute and urgent, the 81st General Convention in 2024 urged the Executive Council to decide on a permanent location by July 1, 2025.
Formerly home to St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church, the new site in Oakwood—about 50 miles from Atlanta—was selected at the council’s June 2025 meeting. Site preparation began in June, with expected completion in spring 2027.
