The Southern Episcopal Church was constituted in Nashville, Tennessee in 1962 as a reaction to what some church members saw as ongoing liberalism, both in the political and the theological sense in the Episcopal Church USA. At particular issue was the practice of some of the funds forwarded to the denominational head office by congregations being donated to politically radical groups.

The Southern Episcopal Church has never sought to form a new denomination, but rather to serve as a gathering place for Episcopalians who wish to maintain their church's ancient traditions and to reach out to like-minded individuals. The 1928 edition of the Book of Common Prayer is used in worship services. Traditional Anglican positions involving personal morality, including sexual morality, are held to.

Currently five parishes (congregations) are contributing to this unified effort, with several others inquiring about doing so.