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Anglican Tradition

Anglican / Episcopal Church

Founded1534Members85 millionPolityEpiscopal

Creeds

The Apostles’ CreedThe Nicene CreedThe Athanasian CreedThe Chalcedonian Definition

Overview

Anglicanism is often described as a "via media" (middle way) between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. It retains Catholic elements such as episcopal governance, liturgical worship, and the sacraments, while embracing Protestant principles like the authority of Scripture and justification by faith.

The Anglican Communion is a worldwide family of churches in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury. It is known for its theological breadth — encompassing Anglo-Catholic, evangelical, and broad church traditions under one roof — and for the Book of Common Prayer as a unifying liturgical text.

Historical Context

The Church of England separated from Rome in 1534 when King Henry VIII was declared Supreme Head of the Church of England via the Act of Supremacy. While Henry's motivations were political (his desire for an annulment), the theological reformation was led by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, who authored the Book of Common Prayer (1549) and shaped Anglican theology.

The Elizabethan Settlement of 1559 established the Church of England's identity as a middle way. The 39 Articles of Religion (1571) defined Anglican doctrine. Through the British Empire, Anglicanism spread globally. The Episcopal Church is the American branch, having organized independently after the American Revolution.

Key Beliefs

Via Media (Middle Way)

Anglicanism holds a middle position between Catholic and Protestant extremes — valuing both Scripture and tradition, both faith and sacraments.

Scripture, Tradition, and Reason

The "three-legged stool" (attributed to Richard Hooker): theology is informed by Scripture (primary), tradition, and reason working together.

The Creeds

The Apostles' and Nicene Creeds are the sufficient statements of Christian faith. Anglicans are creedal rather than confessional.

Sacramental Theology

Two "great sacraments" (Baptism and Eucharist) ordained by Christ, plus five "sacramental rites" (confirmation, ordination, marriage, reconciliation, anointing).

Apostolic Succession

Anglican bishops stand in a line of succession from the apostles, maintaining the historic episcopate.

Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi

The ancient maxim — "the law of prayer is the law of belief" — means Anglican theology is learned and formed through the Book of Common Prayer and the liturgy, not primarily through confessions or systematic theology.

Ordinances

Baptism

Full initiation into the body of Christ. Infant baptism is the norm, with godparents making promises on the child's behalf.

Eucharist (Holy Communion)

The central act of Anglican worship. Most Anglicans affirm a real but spiritual presence of Christ in the elements, deliberately avoiding overly precise definitions.

Mass & Liturgy

Holy Eucharist and the Daily Office

Holy Eucharist on Sundays and Holy Days; Morning and Evening Prayer daily

  1. The Word of God

    Opening Acclamation, Collect for Purity, Gloria or Kyrie, Collect of the Day, Old Testament, Psalm, Epistle, Gospel, Sermon, Nicene Creed, Prayers of the People, Confession and Absolution, Peace.

  2. The Holy Communion

    Offertory, Great Thanksgiving (Sursum Corda, Sanctus, Words of Institution, Memorial Acclamation, Epiclesis), Lord’s Prayer, Fraction, Communion of the People.

  3. The Sending

    Post-communion prayer, Blessing, and Dismissal.

  4. The Daily Office

    Morning and Evening Prayer offer Scripture, canticles (Te Deum, Magnificat, Nunc Dimittis), psalmody, and intercessions throughout the year.

Anglican worship is shaped by the Book of Common Prayer in its various national editions. Vestments, choral music (including Anglican chant and choral evensong), and the lectionary unite the tradition while permitting wide breadth — Anglo-Catholic, Broad Church, and Evangelical streams all coexist.

Catechism

The Catechism in the Book of Common Prayer (1549, 1662, 1979)

The Anglican Catechism appears within the Book of Common Prayer — a brief instruction "to be learned of every person before he be brought to be confirmed by the Bishop." The 1662 BCP catechism teaches the baptismal covenant, the Apostles’ Creed, the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, and the two Dominical Sacraments. The American 1979 BCP includes "An Outline of the Faith, commonly called the Catechism," organized as a series of questions and answers on the foundations of the faith.

  • The Baptismal Covenant — Creed, Commandments, Prayer
  • The Sacraments — Baptism and Holy Communion
  • The Christian Life — duty toward God and neighbour
  • The Outline of the Faith (1979 BCP)
On Baptism

"Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ’s Body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God." — 1979 BCP Catechism

On the Eucharist

"The Holy Eucharist is the sacrament commanded by Christ for the continual remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection, until his coming again." — 1979 BCP Catechism

On the Church

"The Church is the community of the New Covenant… the Body of which Jesus Christ is the Head and of which all baptized persons are members." — 1979 BCP Catechism

On the Ministry

"The ministers of the Church are bishops, priests, and deacons… The ministry of the laity is to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church." — 1979 BCP Catechism

Church Governance

Episcopal

The Anglican Communion is governed by bishops (from the Greek episkopos). Each national or regional church (province) is self-governing, led by an archbishop or presiding bishop. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual head and "first among equals" but has no direct authority over other provinces. Decision-making occurs through synods at diocesan, national, and international levels.

Distinctive Teachings

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