Anglicanism

This is an Opt-In article.

The Church of England (also known as the Anglican Church) is the established state church of the kingdom, and has been since separating from the Roman Catholic Church in 1534. It is a Protestant Church, although nowhere near as extreme as Puritanism. King Charles II, as monarch, holds the title of 'Supreme Governor of the Church of England', and as such is regarded as the highest authority under God in the land. In Ireland, its Anglican counterpart is called The Church of Ireland.

Main Differences between Anglicanism & Catholicism

As set out in the Book of Common Prayer:

• Man's wickedness is so great that no amount of good works could hope to atone for our sin. God, being all good, would not require something of us that is impossible. Therefore, the only thing necessary for salvation is believing in His Name ("justification by faith").

• The Church exists to guide but is not necessary for salvation. There is no need for priests to interpret God's will. Supporting the Church, or denying the flesh, does not bring you closer to God. If you are united with Him at all, it is completely and absolutely.

• The Roman church has corrupted the original doctrines and teachings of Christ and His Apostles for its own purpose, and no longer represents the true faith of Christ. The only source of religious authority is Scripture.

• The two sacraments are Baptism and Holy Eucharist (Communion). The other so-called sacraments are worthy but not Scripturally justified.

• No sacrament is efficacious without understanding and faith.

• There is no principle of Papal authority: the Pope (or Antichrist) is just a man and subject to error. He is not the leader of the true church.

• The doctrine of Purgatory is denied as being un-Scriptural. You go straight to Heaven or Hell, according to God's judgment. Thus prayers for the dead, including Masses and purchased indulgences, are of no value.

• The selling of indulgences is a particular vice because a) it is not in Scripture and b) it encourages sin. The Church cannot put divine forgiveness up for sale.

• Your relation to God is not mediated by priests or saints, but is a personal acceptance of the message of Scripture. The Virgin Mary almost disappears from protestant consciousness, and the role of the saints is greatly diminished.

• All rituals are performed in the vernacular. Rituals are less elaborate, although candles and bells are still in use.

• Ministers can marry.

Anglican Mass

Anglican churches tend to have pews or chairs and it is usual for the congregation to kneel for some prayers but to stand for hymns and other parts of the service. Some Anglicans may choose to genuflect or cross themselves, although this has a highly Roman Catholic flavour. The Book of Common Prayer (BCP) is the foundational prayer book of Anglicanism. The original was one of the instruments of the English Reformation and was later to be adapted and revised in other countries where Anglicanism became established.

Daily Offices

Unlike the Catholic church day, which consists of 8 'hours', the Anglican day consists of 4 Offices.

• Morning Prayer, corresponding to Matins and Lauds
• Prayer During the Day, roughly corresponding to the combination of Terce, Sext and None
• Evening Prayer, corresponding to Vespers
• Compline

Morning Prayer (Matins)

The rite consists of the following elements:

• One or more sentences of scripture, traditionally carrying a penitential theme.
• An exhortation urging the worshippers to repentance and also expressing the nature of worship.
• A general confession.
• A lengthy absolution by the priest detailing the conditions for forgiveness.
• Preces — a series of responsory prayers including, in the English Prayer Book, "O Lord save the King/Because there is none other that fighteth for us but only thou O God,"
• A portion of the Psalter, usually two or three psalms.
• Two lessons (readings) from the Bible.
• Two canticles plus the Te Deum
• The Apostles' Creed.
• Several prayers and responses, including the Lord's Prayer and prayers for "Our Sovereign Lord Charles"
• An anthem following the third collect ("In quires and places where they sing, here followeth the anthem," in the famous phraseology of the 1662 edition of the Prayer Book).

Other than in some cathedrals and college chapels, usually only one psalm is said or sung. A sermon or homily may be preached at the end on Sundays or other special occasions, such as important feast days, but does not form a set part of the liturgy. However, when Mattins has been the principal Sunday morning service, the sermon has been of central importance and indeed in Samuel Pepys's Diary, documenting domestic habits of the 1660s in the London professional class and nobility, the reference is to going to hear a particular preacher — the term during the Restoration period, as under the Puritans, was "minister" and indeed as it is in the Prayer Book in the morning and evening offices — speak.

Evening Prayer (Evensong)

The service of Evening Prayer, according to traditional prayer books such as the 1662 English or 1959 Canadian Book of Common Prayer, is similar in structure to the equivalent Morning Prayer (or Mattins), but with different canticles and with evening-specific collects. Until the 1960s Morning Prayer was the usual morning service in all but very high church parishes, with the Eucharist celebrated as the main morning service once per month or even quarterly. With the virtual disappearance of the service of Morning Prayer, Evensong takes on a special character it formerly lacked.

It is made up of the following elements:

• A penitential introduction, including the General Confession and the Lord's Prayer.
• Preces — a series of responsory prayers.
• A portion of the psalter, usually two or three psalms.
• Two lessons (readings) from the Bible. The first is usually taken from the Old Testament and the second from the New Testament. Each lesson is followed by (one of):
• Two canticles, usually the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, but the various Books of Common Prayer from different countries often offer an enlarged list of options.
• The Apostles' Creed.
• Several prayers and responses, including the Lord's Prayer.
• An anthem following the third collect ("In quires and places where they sing, here followeth the anthem," in the famous phraseology of the 1662 edition of the Prayer Book).
• Further prayers

The service is normally framed by organ playing before and after an accompanied service. In practice, the penitential introduction is often omitted, and apart from in some cathedrals, usually only one psalm is sung. A sermon or homily may be preached at the end on Sundays or other special occasions, such as important feast days, but does not form a set part of the liturgy. Also, one or more congregational hymns may be added to the service.

Eucharist

This is included in the principal service of the day. The Holy Eucharist is called the Lord's Supper, and Holy Communion; it is also known as the Divine Liturgy, the Mass, and the Great Offering.

According to the Book of Common Prayer:

The Holy Eucharist is the sacrament commanded by Christ for the continual remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection, until his coming again. Because the Eucharist, the Church's sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, is the way by which the sacrifice of Christ is made present, and in which he unites us to his one offering of himself.

The outward and visible sign in the Eucharist is bread and wine, given and received according to Christ's command. The inward and spiritual grace in the Holy Communion is the Body and Blood of Christ given to his people, and received by faith. The benefits we receive are the forgiveness of our sins, the strengthening of our union with Christ and one another, and the foretaste of the heavenly banquet which is our nourishment in eternal life.

Prior to receiving the Eucharist, it is required that we should examine our lives, repent of our sins, and be in love and charity with all people.

Is Anglicanism a challenge or benefit?

Neither. Anglicanism is the norm and anybody who doesn't clarify his religion will be assumed to be Anglican and thus subject to its laws and regulations. Note that attending mass and taking communion is mandatory and there may be consequences if you do not confirm.

See Also

• Archbishop of York
• Archbishop of Canterbury
• Bishop of Rochester
• Bishop of Durham
• Reverend Hamilton