What do Anglicans believe? What even is an "Anglican"?
Anglican Christianity is a historic form of Christian faith rooted in Scripture, shaped by ancient worship, and centered on Jesus Christ.
It brings together the richness of the early Church, the clarity of the Reformation, and a life of prayer grounded in the Book of Common Prayer.
The term "Anglican" may be unfamiliar to you, but you may know Anglican Christians. Figures such as C.S. Lewis, John Newton (author of "Amazing Grace"), and William Wilberforce were all Anglicans. More recent voices include N.T. Wright and J.I. Packer.
"Anglican" (related to "Anglo-Saxon") means "English." Anglican Christianity took its present shape during the English Reformation of the 16th century. It retained much of the ancient Catholic tradition of the Church while also embracing needed reforms, especially the central authority of Holy Scripture. For this reason, Anglicanism is often described as a "middle way" between Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions.
Anglicans confess the historic creeds of the Christian Church, especially the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. These ancient statements of faith proclaim the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They affirm God as Creator of all things, the saving work of Jesus Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit guiding the Church.
Anglicans have long been shaped by Scripture. The King James Version of the Bible arose from the Anglican tradition, and our worship includes multiple readings from Scripture each Sunday. The Anglican Church in North America confesses "the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired Word of God, containing all things necessary for salvation, and to be the final authority and unchangeable standard for Christian faith and life."
Anglicans are especially known for the Book of Common Prayer (BCP), which guides our worship. It has been called "the Bible arranged for worship." The liturgy of the BCP teaches and reminds us of who God is, his favor towards us, and who he calls us to be. We believe the sacraments, especially those of Baptism and Holy Communion, are "means of grace," ways that God uses to give of himself to his people. For this reason Holy Communion is the central act of our Sunday worship. All baptized Christians are welcome to receive Communion at St George's.
Further, the Anglican tradition invites us to a full life of prayer beyond Sunday worship, including the daily offices of Morning and Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer, which can be done alone or with others.
If you are curious about Anglican worship, we invite you to join us on a Sunday morning and experience it firsthand.
