What Anglicans Believe

The Creeds: Our Statement of Faith

The ancient Creeds are the living voice of the Church, connecting Anglicans in our diverse, global Communion to the ‘One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church’ of every time and place.

Anglican Faith is a Shared Faith

Anglicanism’s faith is not a new invention. It is the same faith held by the Apostles and the undivided Church of the first centuries. The Creeds are the foundational, ecumenical statements of this universal, or ‘catholic’ faith.

The Anglican Communion upholds the three historical Creeds as foundational statements of Christian belief:

  • The Apostles’ Creed
  • The Nicene Creed
  • The Athanasian Creed

Anglicans affirm these Creeds because their core tenets can be historically proven by the Holy Scripture. They are not an alternative to the Bible, but rather a summary of the core truths of Scripture, forming a tower with strong foundations for Christian doctrine.

Belief Shaped by Prayer (Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi)

A core Anglican principle is Lex orandi, lex credendi – ‘the law of praying is the law of believing’. This means doctrine is not just an abstract list of rules but a lived reality, ‘encountered and internalised through corporate worship.

The classic Book of Common Prayer (BCP) and the service books that have followed it, are the primary expression of this principle. They weave the Creeds directly into the living fabric of Anglican worship, shaping belief every time we pray together as a community.

The Three Ecumenical Creeds

Anglican liturgy uses the three historical Creeds in distinct contexts, each serving a specific purpose in the life of the Church.

The Apostles’ Creed

  • What it is: The Apostles’ Creed is the ancient baptismal creed of the Church, historically used to summarise the core narrative of the Christian faith for those preparing for Baptism
  • How it is used: It is the primary creed used in the services of Baptism and in the daily offices of Morning and Evening Prayer

The Text of the Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

The Nicene Creed

  • What it is: The Nicene Creed was formulated at the great Church Councils of Nicaea (325 AD) and Constantinople (381 AD).
  • Purpose: It was written to articulate the Church’s definitive, orthodox understanding of the full divinity of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in response to early theological debates.
  • How it is used: It is the primary creed recited by the congregation during the Holy Communion (Eucharist). This act unites the entire community in a common profession of faith before approaching the Lord’s Table.

The Text of the Nicene Creed:

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.

The Athanasian Creed

  • What it is: The Athanasian Creed is a detailed, classic exposition of the orthodox doctrines of the Trinity (the nature of God) and the Incarnation (the person of Jesus Christ).
  • How it is used: While it is an official formulary, this creed is used much less frequently in public worship today. It remains highly valued for its precise theological clarity on these ‘key Christian doctrines’.

A Foundation for Christian Unity

The Creeds are a ‘non-negotiable core’ of Anglicanism. They are also foundational for ecumenical endeavours, as the Creeds are shared by Roman Catholics, the Eastern Orthodox, and many Protestant churches. They serve as a powerful bridge for dialogue and a testament to shared faith.

The Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral

This foundational Anglican document, adopted in 1888, outlines four essential elements for a reunited Christian Church.

The second of these four points is: ‘The Apostles’ Creed, as the Baptismal Symbol; and the Nicene Creed, as the sufficient statement of the Christian faith’

This demonstrates the central role the Creeds play in Anglican identity and our mission to seek the visible unity of all Christians.