What Anglicans Believe
The Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral
The Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral is a foundational statement that identifies the four essential elements of faith and order that Anglicans believe are necessary for Christian unity. It serves as both an essential touchstone for Anglican identity and a definitive basis for the Communion’s ecumenical dialogues with other Christian churches.
The Four Points
The Quadrilateral defines the Communion’s commitment to four key elements:
- The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as “containing all things necessary to salvation,” and as being the rule and ultimate standard of faith.
- The Apostles’ Creed, as the Baptismal Symbol; and The Nicene Creed, as the sufficient statement of the Christian faith.
- The two Sacraments ordained by Christ Himself—Baptism and the Supper of the Lord—ministered with unfailing use of Christ’s words of Institution, and of the elements ordained by Him.
- The Historic Episcopate, locally adapted in the methods of its administration to the varying needs of the nations and peoples called of God into the Unity of His Church.
A Framework for Ecumenical Dialogue
The Quadrilateral was first formulated in Chicago, USA, in 1886 and was formally adopted by the Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops in 1888.
Its original purpose was to provide a clear and stable framework for pursuing “Home Reunion”—the healing of divisions among Christian churches. It remains the foundation upon which the Anglican Communion engages in ecumenical dialogues, offering these four points as the essential basis for discussions on achieving visible Christian unity.
A Touchstone for Anglican Identity
While its origins are ecumenical, the Quadrilateral also functions as an “essential touchstone for Anglican identity”. For the autonomous member churches of the Anglican Communion, it articulates a shared, common commitment to these foundational principles of Scripture, faith, sacrament, and structure.
Explore Our Foundations
The Quadrilateral is a key part of the shared inheritance that informs The Instruments of Communion and their work of fostering unity and mission across the globe.
