A Brief History

Church Periodical Club was founded in 1888 by Mary Ann Fargo, the wife of a member of the Wells Fargo Express firm. On a trip to the Dakotas with her husband she learned of the great need on the frontiers for Bibles and other spiritual literature. Mrs. Fargo and other church women in New York sent their bundles of books and periodicals westward to missionaries and pioneers via stagecoach. From this beginning a CPC network has spread throughout the American Church.

How It Works

Each year, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church USA officially declares the first Sunday of May as CPC Sunday. Special prayers, a sermon on the ministry of the printed word, and a special collection for CPC may be given on this Sunday.

All funding to the CPC is voluntary. Donations are received from (hopefully) each parish in the diocese. As required, half of the contributions are sent to the National CPC office in New York to assist in filling grant requests worldwide. The other contributions are divided at the discretion of the Diocesan ECW’s board.

Through the national giving programs, grants are allocated worldwide, based on contributions to two funds. The National Books Fund (NBF) helps meet religious and secular needs by providing printed and audio-visual materials to individuals, including seminary students, churches and organizations affiliated with the Anglican Communion. The need for materials to carry out the mission of the church must be established for all requests. Grant applications are processed after receiving the endorsement of the Episcopal Bishop of the diocese. Grants for the NBF are awarded twice a year. Mile of Pennies is the other program.

The Church Periodical Club Prayer

Bless, O Lord, The Church Periodical Club
that it may be an instrument
for the spread of your word throughout the world.
Grant to its officers wisdom and patience,
to its members perseverance
and the sprit of sharing that asks no return.
Bring many more to take part in
its work of service. Bless our gifts
and those who receive them to the
enrichment of individual lives that we
may all be servants of the risen Lord. Amen