More parishes quit Episcopal Church

Two of the most prominent and largest Episcopal parishes in the state voted overwhelmingly to leave the Episcopal Church and join fellow Anglican conservatives forming a rival denomination in the U.S.

Truro Church in Fairfax and the Falls Church in Falls Church plan to place themselves under the leadership of Anglican Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, who has called the growing acceptance of gay relationships a “satanic attack” on the church.

Five small Virginia parishes also voted to break away, four others have left and three more will decide soon whether to follow suit, parish leaders said.