FIRST PUBLISHED in 1875 as the Dominion Churchman, the Anglican Journal has a long and respected history as a denominational newspaper reporting on topics of interest to all Canadians, including those who are Anglican.With a circulation of 166,000 that reaches every member of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Anglican Journal is the largest faithbased publication in the country. The newspaper is also mailed to every bishop in the Anglican Communion. 

As a member of the Associated Church Press (ACP) and the Canadian Church Press (CCP), the Anglican Journal has been the recipient of hundreds of awards recognizing leadership in news reporting, editorial, column and feature writing, photography, illustration and graphic design. In 2010, the Journal received a total of 22 awards from the ACP and CCP, 11 for excellence. In 2009, the CCP named the Journal best national newspaper. 

Although the Anglican Journal is published by General Synod (the governing body) of the Anglican Church of Canada, it maintains an independent editorial voice. The newspaper is published 10 times a year (with the exception of July and August) and content is determined at the sole discretion of the editor.  

In addition to national and international news, the Anglican Journal carries 23 regional or “diocesan” newspapers that provide important local information for parishes. Together, the Anglican Journal and its diocesan newspaper partners form a unique and vibrant communications network that informs and inspires. 

The Anglican Journal’s website, anglicanjournal.com, keeps 500 visitors a day informed with daily news of interest to Anglicans across Canada and around the world. The website also hosts guest reflections, special reports and provides a forum for commentary on all content. The current issue of the Anglican Journal is posted to the website each month where it can be read and downloaded. 

Milestones

1875
An English bookkeeper, Frank Wootten, buys the Church Herald and renames it Dominion Churchman. An annual subscription to the weekly publication costs $2.

1890
The Rev. William Clarke, a professor at Toronto’s Trinity College, becomes editor. The publication is renamed Canadian Churchman. Wootten retains proprietorship.

1912
Wooten dies and in his will, directs that the paper be sold. A group of evangelical Anglican churchmen form a holding company to purchase the Canadian Churchman. For the next 10 years, it is associated with Wycliffe College in Toronto. 

1926
Clara McIntyre succeeds her late husband, the Rev. E.A. McIntyre, a professor at Wycliffe College, to become the first female editor of the Churchman. She holds until the position until 1944, with readers unaware of her gender. The Rev. Walter F. Barfoot, who later becomes primate, is assistant editor.

1948
The Anglican Church of Canada’s now defunct General Board of Religious Education takes over as publisher. Circulation is about 5,000. 

1957
A recommendation is made to the church’s executive to combine all the church’s periodicals into one monthly publication. 

1959
The new Canadian Churchman is launched under the editorship of a young priest from the diocese of Huron, Canon Gordon Baker. The January issue is printed with the publications of a half-dozen dioceses. Circulation climbs to 65,000.

1959
A new distribution concept benefitting dioceses and the national church is forged. All identifiable givers to the church receive the newspaper along with their diocesan publication. Circulation skyrockets to more than 200,000. 

1968-1975
Hugh McCullum, a well-respected journalist and activist, is the first editor to hire professional reporters rather than clergy to produce stories on poverty, aboriginal land claims, pollution, abortion law reform and apartheid. A fierce advocate of editorial independence, he believes that an open, transparent church is a stronger church.  

1975 
On the paper’s centennial year, another journalist, Jerry Hames, succeeds McCullum, and continues the award-winning news coverage. Hames later de-camps to New York where he become editor of Episcopal Life. 

1977
The newspaper’s editorial policy is revised. While the Canadian Churchman remains the national newspaper of the Anglican Church of Canada, its’ position as an independent voice rather than the official voice of the church, is made clear. 

1989
The Canadian Churchman changes its name to the Anglican Journal/Journal Episcopal to reflect anglophone and francophone membership.  A year later, the French reference is dropped and the newspaper becomes the Anglican Journal. Journalist Carolyn  Purden, succeeds Hames as editor and general manager. She increases news coverage and brings in a Reflections page, an Across Canada page, new columnists, and a music reviewer to complement the popular movie reviews page. 

1994
With funding from General Synod slashed by 38 per cent, the Journal seeks donations from readers for the first time. Proceeds from the Anglican Journal Appeal are shared 50/50 with the diocesan newspapers.  

1998
The newspaper goes online, allowing Anglicans to access its breaking news stories, as well as indepth coverage of a number of issues. 

2000
“Sins of the Fathers,” a 16-page supplement detailing for the first time the Anglican Church of Canada’s involvement in Indian residential schools is published. The exhaustive investigative piece, written by freelance journalist David Napier and commissioned by Journal editor David Harris, receives many awards.

2002
As concern about Indian residential school litigation mounts, the Anglican Journal becomes a separately incorporated body to protect it from possible bankruptcy. 

2005 
Readers mark the 130th anniversary of the Journal by contributing more than $638,000 to the Journal Appeal. This is the single largest amount raised since the appeal was launched in 1994. To celebrate, a number of readers send cheques for 130. 

2006
On Dec. 15, the federal government extends a postal subsidy that makes it possible for the Anglican Journal and the regional newspapers it carries to be mailed at an average cost of 13 cents per copy. Without the postal subsidy, the cost would rise to at least 52 cents.

2010
A re-design of the Anglican Journal, the first in a decade, is launched with the April issue, offering a bold new reader-friendly look. 

The Anglican Journal launches a new interactive website that provides daily online news and analysis at the “paperless” General Synod 2010 in Halifax.