The Scriptures and the Gospels, the Apostolic Church and the
early Church Fathers, are the foundation of Anglican faith and
worship in the 44 self-governing churches that make up the Anglican
Communion.
The Church of England is part of the One, Holy, Catholic and
Apostolic Church. It worships the one true God, who is Father, Son
and Holy Spirit.
It professes the faith that is uniquely revealed in the Bible
and set forth in the Catholic Creeds (the statements of faith
developed in the Early Church that are still used in the Church's
worship today). The Church is called to proclaim that faith afresh
in each generation. Led by the Holy Spirit, the Church of England
bore witness to Christian truth in historic texts that were
developed in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries: the
Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, the Book of Common Prayer and the
Ordinal (services for ordaining bishops, priests and deacons).
The bishops, priests and deacons of the Church of
England and also some laypeople (Readers and certain lay
officers) are required to declare their loyalty to this inheritance
of faith as their 'inspiration and guidance under God in bringing
the grace and truth of Christ to this generation and making Him
known to those in [their] care'. They do so by making a Declaration
of Assent. The version for bishops, priests and deacons reads:
"I, [name], do so affirm, and accordingly declare my belief in
the faith
which is revealed in the Holy Scriptures and set forth in the
catholic
creeds and to which the historic formularies of the Church
of
England bear witness; and in public prayer and administration of
the
sacraments, I will use only the forms of service which are
authorized
or allowed by Canon."
The Declaration and its Preface (on which the text on this page
is based) are set out in Canon C 15 of the Canons of the Church of
England. They are also printed in Common Worship: Services and
Prayers for the Church of England (page xi).
Read a short history of
Anglicanism.
Read what the Archbishop of York Dr
John Sentamu says on being Anglican.