THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND

What it means to be an Anglican

The Scriptures and the Gospels, the Apostolic Church and the early Church Fathers, are the foundation of Anglican faith and worship. The basic tenets of being an Anglican are:

·         We view the Old and New Testaments "as containing all things necessary for salvation" and as being the rule and ultimate standard of faith.

·         We understand the Apostles' creed as the baptismal symbol, and the Nicene creed as the sufficient statement of the Christian faith.

·         The two sacraments as ordained by Christ himself – Baptism and the Supper of the Lord – are administered with unfailing use of Christ's words of institution, and the elements are ordained by him.

·         The historic episcopate (leadership by bishops) is locally adapted in the methods of its administration to the varying needs of the nations and peoples called to God into the unity of his Church.

Anglicans trace t-heir historic roots back to the early Church, and their specifically Anglican identity to the post-Reformation expansion of the Church of England.

Anglicans uphold the Catholic and Apostolic faith. Following the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Churches are committed to the proclamation of the good news of the Gospel to the whole creation. In practice this is based on the revelation contained in the Holy Scripture and the Catholic creeds, and is interpreted in light of Christian tradition, scholarship, reason and experience.

By baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a person is made one with Christ and received into the fellowship of the Church. This sacrament of initiation is open to children as well as adults.

Central to worship for Anglicans is the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, also called Holy Communion, the Lord's Supper or the Mass. In this offering of prayer and praise, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are recalled through the proclamation of the word and the celebration of the sacrament. Other important rites, commonly called sacraments, include confirmation, holy orders (bishops, priests and deacons), reconciliation, marriage and anointing of the sick.

Worship is at the very heart of Anglicanism. Its styles vary from simple worship to elaborate, or even a combination. The great uniting text is The Book of Common Prayer, in its various revisions, especially the currently used Common Worship.

To be an Anglican is to be on a journey of faith to God supported by a fellowship of co-believers who are dedicated to finding Him by prayer and service.

More information from www.cofe.anglican.orq and www.stedmundsbury.anglican.org