IOverview
Anglicanism is the family of churches that grew from the Church of England, the national church that broke with Rome in the 16th century. Churches of this tradition worldwide form the Anglican Communion, with the Archbishop of Canterbury as its focus of unity.
The library places Anglicanism under Protestantism, following the common classification used by Pew Research Center among others. Many Anglicans would not describe themselves that way. Their familiar phrase is catholic and reformed, a middle way or via media. This is the library's filing convention, not a judgement on identity.
IIHistory
Christianity reached Britain in Roman times, and in 597 Augustine of Canterbury was sent by Pope Gregory. The break with Rome began as politics: Henry VIII sought an annulment the Pope would not grant, and in 1534 Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy making the king head of the Church of England.
Reformation doctrine came later, through Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, who compiled the Book of Common Prayer in 1549. After reversals under Mary, Elizabeth I established the settlement of 1559, followed by the Thirty Nine Articles in 1571. From the 17th century colonies and mission societies carried Anglicanism worldwide, and those churches gradually became self-governing.
- 597Augustine at CanterburyThe mission the Church of England regards as its root.
- 1534Act of SupremacyThe king becomes head of the Church of England, independent of Rome.
- 1549Book of Common PrayerThomas Cranmer's English liturgy.
- 1559Elizabethan SettlementThe shape of Anglicanism is stabilised.
- 1867First Lambeth ConferenceAnglican bishops from around the world meet in London, later roughly every ten years.
IIIBeliefs and Distinctives
The Chicago Lambeth Quadrilateral of 1886 and 1888 sums up what Anglicans see as the basis for unity:
- Scripture contains all things necessary to salvation.
- The Creeds, Apostles' and Nicene.
- Two sacraments, baptism and communion.
- The historic episcopate, locally adapted.
Anglican theology is often described as resting on Scripture, tradition and reason. Unity lies more in common prayer than in a detailed doctrinal system, summed up in the Latin phrase lex orandi, lex credendi, the law of prayer is the law of belief.
Three schools live side by side: High Church, close to Catholic ritual, Low Church or Evangelical, stressing Scripture and preaching, and a liberal stream open to modern theology. Since the early 21st century disagreements over marriage and sexuality have strained the Communion, and in 2008 a number of churches in Africa, Asia and South America formed the GAFCON movement.
IVWorship, Rites and Daily Life
Anglican life centres on common worship: Morning and Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer, and the Eucharist on Sundays. The church year keeps Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter. Choral music is a great tradition, especially Choral Evensong in the cathedrals.
Anglicans baptise infants and have confirmation by a bishop. Clergy are bishops, priests and deacons, and may marry. Many member churches ordain women, some as bishops, while many others do not.
VOrganisation and Distribution
The Communion has no central government. Its four Instruments of Communion are the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference of bishops, the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates' Meeting. The Archbishop is a focus of unity with no jurisdiction over member churches.
According to Lambeth Conference materials, the Communion has 42 member churches in over 165 countries and roughly 85 million people. The churches of Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya are among those with the most regular worshippers, while attendance in England has fallen considerably.
VIIn Vietnam
No Anglican body appears among the 11 recognised Protestant organisations in the 2023 publication of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs.
According to the Anglican Diocese of Singapore, work in Vietnam falls under the diocese's Deanery of Vietnam and has been active since the 1990s. It lists two mission congregations. In Hanoi, Citylight church began in November 2008 and was renamed Church of The True Light when it came under the deanery in August 2012, with about 80 members. In Ho Chi Minh City, Church of Christ Our Hope began in December 2009, with about 50 members. The page gives no year for these figures and says nothing about legal status.
Before 1975 there was Anglican worship in Saigon serving the English speaking community, but the library has not found detailed records.
VIISymbol of the Branch
Compass rose
Compass Rose
VIIISub-branches
- High Church (Anglo-Catholic)
- Low Church or Evangelical
- Liberal Anglicanism
IXOther Branches of Protestantism
Pentecostal ChurchesPentecostalismThe youngest and fastest growing family, stressing that gifts of the Holy Spirit such as speaking in tongues, healing and prophecy are active today.
Reformed and Presbyterian ChurchesReformed, PresbyterianStems from Zwingli in Zurich and Calvin in Geneva.Anglican CommunionAnglicanismSeparated from Rome in England in 1534, keeping bishops and the Book of Common Prayer.
Methodist ChurchesMethodismGrew from John Wesley's movement within 18th-century Anglicanism and became separate after 1791.
Lutheran ChurchesLutherische KircheThe first family, beginning with Martin Luther in 1517, with the Augsburg Confession of 1530 as its basic creed.
BaptistsBaptistsBegins with John Smyth in Amsterdam in 1609.Uses the common symbol of the path
Seventh-day AdventistsSeventh-day Adventist ChurchFormed in 19th-century America from the movement awaiting Christ's return.
Christian and Missionary Alliance (CMA)Christian and Missionary AllianceFounded by A.
Anabaptist and Mennonite ChurchesAnabaptism, MennonitesBegan in Zurich on 21 January 1525.XSources
The library cross-checks the sources below. Where they disagree, the page gives both.
?Quick Questions
Is Anglicanism Protestant?
Common classifications place it among Protestant churches. Many Anglicans describe themselves as both catholic and reformed, a middle way. The library files it under Protestantism for convenience, not as a judgement on identity.
Is the Archbishop of Canterbury the Anglican pope?
No. The Archbishop is the focus of unity of the Anglican Communion and chairs its common bodies, but has no jurisdiction over member churches.
What is the Episcopal Church?
It is the name of the Anglican member church in the United States and some other countries. Episcopal means governed by bishops, pointing to the Anglican form of church order.
Are there Anglican churches in Vietnam?
No Anglican body is among the 11 recognised Protestant organisations. According to the Anglican Diocese of Singapore, its Deanery of Vietnam has two small congregations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.