New To Anglicanism

Anglicanism: A Reformed Faith with Ancient Roots

Anglicanism emerged during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation as a reformed expression of Christianity that sought to return to biblical foundations while maintaining certain catholic traditions. It began in England in the 16th Century but over the centuries Anglicanism has grown and today it has a global reach. 

Reformed Foundations

Anglicanism is firmly rooted in Reformation principles. During the English Reformation, reformers like Thomas Cranmer, Nicholas Ridley, and Hugh Latimer (many of whom were martyred for their beliefs) worked to reform the church according to Scripture. Key reformed aspects include:

  • Scripture as Supreme Authority - The Anglican commitment to the Bible as the primary authority for faith (sola scriptura) is foundational. The 39 Articles of Religion declare Scripture contains "all things necessary to salvation."

  • Justification by Faith Alone - Anglicans affirm the reformed doctrine that we are justified by faith in Christ's finished work, not by our own merit or works.

  • Vernacular Worship - The Book of Common Prayer represented a revolutionary shift to worship in English rather than Latin, allowing ordinary people to understand and participate.

  • Simplified Sacramental System - Anglicanism recognizes two biblical sacraments (Baptism and Holy Communion), rather than the seven of Roman Catholicism.

From English Church to Global Communion

What began as the Church of England expanded dramatically to become a worldwide family of churches:

  • Colonial expansion - Anglicanism first spread through British colonial endeavors, with chaplains, missionaries, and settlers establishing churches across North America, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.

  • Missionary movement - The 18th and 19th centuries saw tremendous growth through evangelical missionary societies like the Church Missionary Society (CMS) and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG).

  • Indigenous leadership - As churches matured in different regions, leadership increasingly transferred to local bishops and clergy who contextualized Anglican worship while maintaining reformed theological commitments.

  • Anglican Communion - Today, Anglicanism comprises 42 autonomous provinces around the world with approximately 85 million members. The largest and fastest-growing Anglican churches are now in Africa (especially Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya) and parts of Asia.

  • Global South leadership - The center of gravity in Anglicanism has shifted from England to the Global South, where churches often emphasize biblical authority and reformed theology more strongly than some Western counterparts.

Reformed Distinctives

Anglicanism expresses its reformed character through:

  • The 39 Articles of Religion - This doctrinal statement strongly reflects reformed theology on predestination, the nature of the sacraments, and rejection of transubstantiation.

  • Common Prayer tradition - The liturgy emphasizes the proclamation of Scripture, with extensive Bible readings and reformed theological content.

  • Protestant identity - Historically, Anglicans identified as Protestant and reformed, seeing themselves as part of the broader Reformation movement.

Historic Continuity

While thoroughly reformed, Anglicanism maintained:

  • Episcopal church governance (bishops, priests, deacons)

  • Liturgical worship with ancient patterns

  • Appreciation for church tradition when consistent with Scripture

This "reformed catholicity" makes Anglicanism distinct from some other Protestant traditions while remaining firmly committed to Reformation principles.

Anglicanism Today

What began as the Church of England expanded dramatically to become a worldwide family of churches. Anglicanism first spread because of British colonial endeavors: chaplains, missionaries, and settlers establishing churches across North America, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. The 18th and 19th centuries saw tremendous growth as evangelical missionary societies took the Gospel across the world. Today, over eighty-five million people in over 165 countries call themselves Anglicans.

Want to Know More?

If you would like to know more about Anglicanism, join us for worship and conversation.

If you want some additional resources, a good place to begin is Gerald Bray's recently published introduction called Anglicanism: A Reformed Catholic Tradition. If you want to dig deeper, a good resource on the Thirty-Nine Articles is the commentary by Bp. Harold Browne.

Further resources are available on the website of our diocese.