Anglicanism
A Western Christian tradition rooted in the Church of England.
Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christian tradition that developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. Anglicans base their faith on the Bible, traditions of the apostolic church, apostolic succession, and the writings of the Church Fathers, as well as historically the Thirty-nine Articles and The Books of Homilies.
- Founded
- 1534 (declared independence from the Holy See via Act of Supremacy)
- Key Text
- Book of Common Prayer
- Governance
- Episcopal polity, with the Archbishop of Canterbury as primus inter pares
- Known For
- Via media (middle way) between Protestantism and Catholicism; global Anglican Communion
Lore & Background
After the American Revolution, Anglican congregations in the United States and British North America were reconstituted into autonomous churches with their own bishops and self-governing structures, known as the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States and the Church of England in the Dominion of Canada. Through the expansion of the British Empire and Christian missions, this model was adopted for many newly formed churches, especially in Africa, Australasia, and the Asia-Pacific. By the 21st century, the global centre of Anglicanism had shifted to the Global South, particularly sub-Saharan Africa.
Reader's Guide
Anglicanism's significance lies in its role as a major branch of Western Christianity, forming a global communion of national and regional churches in full communion with the See of Canterbury. Its unique identity as a via media has allowed it to encompass a wide range of theological and liturgical practices, from evangelical to Anglo-Catholic. The Book of Common Prayer serves as a principal tie binding the Anglican Communion as a liturgical tradition. The tradition's historical development, from its break with Rome through the Elizabethan Settlement to its global expansion via the British Empire and missions, has made it a diverse and influential Christian body. The shift of its demographic centre to Africa and the Global South in the 21st century highlights its ongoing evolution. The term 'Anglicanism' itself was coined in the late 19th century to describe the common religious tradition of these churches, including the Scottish Episcopal Church. The communion's governance, with the Archbishop of Canterbury as primus inter pares and the decennial Lambeth Conference, provides a structure for unity amid diversity, while debates over Protestant and Catholic tendencies continue to shape its internal dynamics.
Did You Know?
- The word Anglican originates from the medieval Latin phrase ecclesia anglicana, meaning the English Church.
- The Book of Common Prayer is unique to Anglicanism and is acknowledged as a principal tie that binds the Anglican Communion.
- The Archbishop of Canterbury is referred to as primus inter pares (Latin, 'first among equals') within the Anglican Communion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Anglicanism?
Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that emerged from the Church of England after the 16th-century break with Rome. It is often described as a 'via media,' or middle way, blending Catholic liturgical richness with Protestant emphasis on Scripture.
What are Anglicanism's core beliefs and key texts?
Anglicans anchor their faith in the Bible, apostolic succession, the teachings of the early Church Fathers, and the Book of Common Prayer as their central liturgical guide. They uphold the two sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist while permitting a wide spectrum of theological interpretation across the communion.
How did Anglicanism get its start?
The tradition formally began in 1534 when the Act of Supremacy declared the English monarch head of the Church of England, cutting ties with the papacy. This separation unfolded within the wider Protestant Reformation reshaping European Christianity.
How is Anglicanism governed and structured?
The tradition operates under an episcopal polity, meaning bishops oversee individual dioceses and provinces. The Archbishop of Canterbury acts as primus inter pares—a first among equals—uniting the worldwide Anglican Communion without holding the centralized authority of a pope.
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