A LETTER FROM BISHOP ACKERMAN

“We are inheritors of a great treasure.”  During the period of time in the American Church (Episcopal) when there were heroes of the Faith who sought to plant and expand the principles of the “Oxford Movement” or “Tractarian Movement” Parish Press was born. Operating out of the beauty of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Fond du Lac Wisconsin, aided by the Sisters of the Holy Nativity, Parish Press was born. Dean Averill, Dean of the Cathedral (1923), and Dean Gulick, his successor, had the vision that Anglo Catholic devotional materials needed to be made available to those clergy, laity, and churches that were being influenced by the Ritualist Movement that had taken root in numerous parishes and Dioceses, including the so-called “Biretta Belt” a string of Dioceses including Fond du Lac, Eau Claire, and Milwaukee in Wisconsin; Quincy, Chicago, and Springfield in Illinois, Northern Indiana, and Marquette, Michigan. These devotional materials would include Tracts for the Tract Racks found in Church Narthexes, various framed cards for Altar, Sacristy, and Narthex, and numerous certificates including those for Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion. Over the years these materials became a familiar site in many churches, and the ministry of Parish Press became legendary.  

In the 1990’s, as the Cathedral Church of St. Paul evaluated their various ministries, it was determined that the Parish Press would be sold. It was acquired in the mid-nineties by Fr. and Mrs. Jerry Jones of Kansas, and in August 2011 it was acquired by DoveTracts Publications of Texas. The desire of The Parish Press/ DoveTracts is to provide resources including devotional materials and educational materials for yet another generation of those who seek to be drawn ever closer to our Lord Jesus Christ through worship in a rich sacramental life. The Parish Press sees itself as a servant ministry that simply seeks to enrich and enhance the lives of clergy, laity and parishes. While many of our items have been certainly of the Anglo-Catholic Tradition, we have attempted to make certain that most of our materials, particularly our books, are appropriate for all Christians particularly for those who live their Christian lives in Liturgical Churches. Roman Catholics, Lutherans, and Eastern Orthodox, and Anglicans have availed themselves of these resources, and it is our hope that countless generations to come will benefit from the riches of The Parish Press as those of past generations have.  

With that in mind our more recent publications, which include extraordinary books written by extraordinary people, are provided not just for the individual reader but also for group Bible Studies and Book Studies.  We are particularly grateful for excellent suggestions from our customers which has resulted in the production of items that are seen as essential to the average parish.  As the name of our over 100 years old company indicates, we seek to be a resource for all parishes and their people.  As a small non-profit company, we are poised to meet the needs of our customers on a personal level, and make available items that cannot be found anywhere else.  Thank you for providing many opportunities to serve you and by serving you, to serve Jesus.  We are, indeed “inheritors of a great treasure.”