Anglicanism is a branch of Christianity that descends from the Church of England and that is rooted in both the catholic and Protestant traditions. We use an ancient liturgy and believe in the sacraments just as the early churches did. We are a church governed by bishops (that’s why we’re also called “episcopal”, from the Greek word for bishop), priests and deacons. We sometimes identify ourselves as catholics, but are distinct from Roman Catholicism. One might say we are the English catholic church, catholics without a pope.
Many people think of the Church of England as having begun simply because Henry VIII wanted a divorce that the pope wouldn’t grant him. While this may have been the beginning of the political separation of English Christianity from Rome, we must also keep in mind that the theology and spiritual heritage of the Ecclesia Anglicana, the Anglican Church, stretches from the earliest centuries of Christianity, through the Reformation, to the present day. Henry’s divorce changed very little of the actual practice of worship in the local parish.
Anglicanism benefits from the biblical reforms of Protestantism while holding fast also to that which is best called catholic, the faith handed down through generations and which is present within our liturgy, our governance, and our faithful administration of the sacraments, particularly Baptism and Holy Communion. Anglicanism has spread around the globe, with national Anglican churches (often referred to as Provinces) evangelizing the entire world for Christ. The recognized presence of the Anglican Communion in America has traditionally been The Episcopal Church. Realignments within that church and within the Communion itself have made room for other Anglican bodies, such as the Reformed Episcopal Church to witness in North America to the gospel of Jesus and the practice of Christianity as our tradition has received it.
For a very good introduction to the history of Anglicanism – including the REC that is very understandable and helpful see AN INTRODUCTION TO ANGLICANISM by Fr. V. E. Novak, one of our own priests.
