Episcopal Church Women

The National Episcopal Church Women and its local groups are ministries of the Episcopal Church. Since 1871, the National Episcopal Church Women, ECW, have championed women’s rights and the Christian foundation of God and family. They are a ministry of the Episcopal Church and celebrate that Episcopalians believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.


Their women’s ministry and children’s programs feed, educate, and provide community grants around the world. They are a volunteer organization that creates a legacy for Episcopal Church Women to lead future generations with stewardship in Christ. To find out more about ECW please click here. 

Lenten Retreat 2023

This year’s Lenten retreat was focused on the “joy of regathering.” We were fortunate enough to experience unusually warm weather for the time of year and as always wonderful speakers and delicious meals sponsored by the Diocese of Springfield’s Episcopal Church Women (ECW). 


Bishop Brian Burgess shared how ECW has influenced his life on Saturday as this year’s keynote speaker. He sees the ECW as a vibrant and influential ministry of the Diocese of Springfield. Mother Mollie Ward presented a SWOT Analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) on Friday evening. This exercise was focused on thinking about ECW within our local communities and the Diocese as a whole. Maryfran Crist, Vice President of the Church Periodical Club and Province V CPC Representative presented the Diocese of Springfield’s ECW a Traveling Library that was given by the Diocese of Milwaukee’s ECW from their Traveling Library. Ms. Claudia Byrne played the organ in St. Cecilia’s Chapel on Saturday night, honoring the women’s requests to play their favorite hymns. Mother Sherry Black challenged ECW on Sunday to think of E, C, and W words that describe women and what ECW means to them. We gathered for Morning Prayer, Noon Day Prayer, Evening Prayer, Eucharist, and Compline throughout the weekend.