Episcopal polity conferences or synods. Their leadership is both sacramental and constitutional; as well as performing ordinations, confirmations, and consecrations, the bishop supervises the clergy within a local jurisdiction and is the representative both to secular structures and within the hierarchy of the church. Bishops are considered to derive their authority from an unbroken, personal apostolic succession from the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. Bishops with such authority are said to represent the historical episcopate or historic episcopate. Churches with this type of government usually believe that the Church requires episcopal government as described in the New Testament (see 1 Timothy 3 and
St. James Episcopal Church (Amesbury, Massachusetts) at St. James under Fr. Mike Shirley. The Reverend Susan Esco-Chandler became a Priest-in-Charge at St. James in 2006, and oversaw extensive renovations to the church and growth in children's programs, Christian education, and membership. St. James Episcopal Church (Amesbury, Massachusetts) St. James Episcopal Church is an historic parish in Amesbury, Massachusetts. St. James parish, in Amesbury, Massachusetts, has its roots in 18th century Anglican worship, and takes its present form from the Episcopal Church of the 19th century. Episcopalians were worshipping in Amesbury as early as 1711. The first Episcopal church was built around 1745, in what is now