Anglican
- Grew from
- Roman Catholic
- From
- 1534 AD
- Origin
- England
- Confession
- Thirty-Nine Articles 1571 AD
Separated from Rome under Henry VIII for dynastic reasons before taking a reformed doctrinal shape under Edward VI and Elizabeth I, retaining bishops and much of the older liturgy.
What marks it out
The Book of Common Prayer, which carries the doctrine in the form of worship rather than in a systematic confession — the tradition's characteristic move, since a settlement that had to hold Catholics and Puritans together could agree on prayer more easily than on definitions. Bishops in historic succession. Scripture, tradition and reason together. A deliberately broad church, containing Anglo-Catholic and Evangelical wings that read the same articles very differently.
Bodies that grew from it
Figures
- Thomas Cranmer
1489–1556
The Book of Common Prayer
- William Tyndale
c. 1494–1536
The English New Testament, and death for making it
- John Newton
1725–1807
Amazing Grace, written by a former slave trader
- William Wilberforce
1759–1833
Twenty years of bills against the slave trade
- C. S. Lewis
1898–1963
Mere Christianity, and Narnia
- Desmond Tutu
1931–2021
Truth and Reconciliation
Alongside it
Also from Roman Catholic.
- Waldensian (1173 AD)
- Hussite (1415 AD)
- Lutheran (1517 AD)
- Reformed / Presbyterian (1541 AD)
- Eastern Catholic churches (1596 AD)
In the record
-
1534–1559 AD Reform
The English Reformation
England separated from Rome under Henry VIII, then took a reformed doctrinal settlement under Edward VI and Elizabeth I while keeping bishops and liturgy.
What it holds
Each position in the terms this tradition itself uses, with its confessional source.
- Baptism Church-dividing
- A sign of new birth and an instrument by which the promise is sealed; the baptism of infants is to be retained. Thirty-Nine Articles, XXVII (1571)
- Church authority Church-dividing
- General councils may err and have erred; the church has authority in controversies of faith but may not ordain anything contrary to scripture. Thirty-Nine Articles, XX-XXI (1571)
- Justification Church-dividing
- We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of Christ by faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Thirty-Nine Articles, XI (1571)
- Mary Church-dividing
- Honoured as the mother of the Lord; invocation of saints is called a fond thing vainly invented. Thirty-Nine Articles, XXII (1571)
- Scripture and tradition Church-dividing
- Scripture contains all things necessary to salvation; nothing may be required as an article of faith that cannot be proved from it. Thirty-Nine Articles, VI (1571)
- The Lord's Supper Church-dividing
- The body of Christ is given and received after a heavenly and spiritual manner, by faith. Transubstantiation is rejected as overthrowing the nature of a sacrament. Thirty-Nine Articles, XXVIII (1571)
- The saints and intercession Church-dividing
- Invocation of saints is rejected as without warrant in scripture. Thirty-Nine Articles, XXII (1571)
- The state after death Church-dividing
- The Romish doctrine concerning purgatory is a fond thing vainly invented, grounded upon no warranty of scripture. Thirty-Nine Articles, XXII (1571)
- How many sacraments Genuine disagreement
- Two sacraments ordained by Christ; the other five are not counted sacraments of the gospel. Thirty-Nine Articles, XXV (1571)
- Icons and images Genuine disagreement
- Practice has varied widely; the Articles condemn the worshipping and adoration of images while retaining their use. Thirty-Nine Articles, XXII (1571)
- Ordination of women Genuine disagreement
- Provinces differ. Many ordain women to the priesthood and episcopate; some do not, and the communion holds both. Contemporary practice, summarised
- Perseverance of the saints Genuine disagreement
- Those who fall into sin after receiving the Holy Spirit may rise again and amend their lives. Thirty-Nine Articles, XVI (1571)
- Predestination and free will Genuine disagreement
- Predestination to life is God's eternal purpose, a doctrine full of comfort to the godly, though hazardous to the curious. Thirty-Nine Articles, XVII (1571)
- How the cross saves Difference of emphasis
- Confesses Christ as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, without prescribing a theory. Held across the confessional standards; no tradition makes one theory a test of communion.
- Spiritual gifts Difference of emphasis
- Views vary widely; both cessationist and charismatic currents exist within the communion. Anglican practice, summarised
- The millennium Difference of emphasis
- No single position is required; all three readings are found in the communion. Augsburg Confession, XVII (1530) for the Lutheran position; otherwise contemporary practice, summarised.
- Inspiration of scripture Broad agreement
- Held in common with all the traditions listed here; not a point of division. Held across all confessional standards
- Salvation originates in grace Broad agreement
- Held in common with all the traditions listed here; not a point of division. Second Council of Orange (529)
- The Incarnation Broad agreement
- Held in common with all the traditions listed here; not a point of division. Nicene Creed (381); Chalcedon (451)
- The Resurrection Broad agreement
- Held in common with all the traditions listed here; not a point of division. Nicene Creed (381); Chalcedon (451)
- The Trinity Broad agreement
- Held in common with all the traditions listed here; not a point of division. Nicene Creed (381); Chalcedon (451)