What Anglicans Believe
The ‘Anglican Way’ is a particular and historic expression of the Christian faith, lived out by a global family of churches united in a common mission. This is a faith rooted in Jesus Christ, shaped by history, and expressed in shared worship and service. This page is your guide to Anglican core beliefs, our global structure, and our shared story.
The Foundations of Faith
The foundation of Anglican faith is the fundamental Christian belief in the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Anglicans believe that Jesus Christ, God the Son, lived, died, and rose again to restore humanity’s broken relationship with God. This saving act, rooted in God’s love, is the ‘Good News’ that Christians proclaim and the centre of our shared faith.
Building on this foundation, Anglican identity is defined not just by what we believe, but by how we discern and articulate that faith.
The Cornerstones of Belief and Practice
Scripture, Tradition & Reason
Anglicans discern God’s voice in the Holy Scriptures, as the rule and ultimate standard of faith. This guidance comes to us through church tradition, and we understand it, using our ability to think and reason.
The Creeds
Anglicans affirm the ancient, ecumenical Creeds as the sufficient statement of the Christian faith. The Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds are a summary of core scriptural truths that unite us with the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
The Sacraments
A sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. Anglicans celebrate the two great sacraments of the Gospel, Baptism and the Eucharist, as effective channels of God’s grace and indispensable to our life of faith.
The Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral
This foundational statement identifies the four essential elements of our faith and order: Scripture, Creeds, Sacraments, and the Historic Episcopate. It serves as both a touchstone for Anglican identity and a basis for Christian unity.
Guiding Principles
Anglican beliefs are not static principles but are understood as a living faith. This faith is actively expressed through three key dimensions:
STUDY Guide and RESOURCES
Global Perspectives on Being Anglican
Learning from Our History
Learning from our history is an important part of being Anglican. Access an introductory course for study groups on the history of the Anglican Communion.
Learning from Global Perspectives
This guide provides links to various interviews and commentary by Anglicans from around the world on what Anglicanism means to them.
Explore FAITH foundations
Key Documents
Access study guides or read texts that help articulate the core faith, order, and identity of the Anglican Communion.
Being Anglican – Study Guide 1
Access an introductory course for study groups about the history of the Anglican Communion. Published by the Theological Education in the Anglican Communion (TEAC) in 2022.
Being Anglican – Study Guide 2
Access an introductory course for study groups to hear global perspectives on Anglicanism. This guide provides links to various interviews with Anglicans from around the world on what Anglicanism means to them. Published by the Theological Education in the Anglican Communion (TEAC) in 2022.
The Five Marks of Mission
The comprehensive framework that defines the Church’s holistic mission to Tell, Teach, Tend, Transform, and Treasure.
The Nicene Creed
The sufficient statement of the Christian faith, affirming our belief in the triune God and uniting us with the universal Church.
The Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral
The four essential elements—Scripture, Creeds, Sacraments, and the Historic Episcopate—that define Anglican identity and our basis for Christian unity.
A Living Way, A Global Family
The ‘Anglican Way’ is a particular and historic expression of the Christian faith, lived out by a global family of churches united in a common mission. This is a faith rooted in Jesus Christ, shaped by history, and expressed in shared worship and service. This page is your guide to Anglican core beliefs, our global structure, and our shared story.
