The South Carolina Court of Appeals has overturned a judgment in favor of a congregation which left the Episcopal Church for the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) and is seeking to retain title to its property.

The decision will allow the Diocese of South Carolina to contest ownership of the multi-million dollar campus in Pawleys Island that is also the corporate headquarters for the AMiA. In determining that there were sufficient facts in dispute to warrant a trial, the three-judge panel vacated and reversed a lower court summary judgment in favor of the AMiA.

Litigation over title to All Saints’ began shortly after the Jan. 2000 consecration of its rector, the Rev. Charles Murphy, as Bishop Suffragan of Rwanda with a missionary charge to the United States. After growing concerned that the congregation would attempt to keep its property if it decided to leave the Episcopal Church, the diocese filed a notice with the local Register of Deeds, stating that in the event of a dispute, church canons stipulate that the diocese has the superior ownership claim.

All Saints’ responded by filing suit seeking to clear the title.