The Nicene Creed is a summary of core Christian beliefs regularly used in worship:
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.
Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England also offers alternative texts of the Creed for use on suitable ecumenical occasions as well as a responsive form.
The Nicene Creed originally dates from the year 325 when it was agreed by the First Council of Nicaea. Part of the purpose of developing the creed was to give expression to the understanding of God as Trinity. This means that Christians believe in one God in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Since 325, the creed has been modified, expanding particularly on the description of the Holy Spirit. Some of these modifications were not accepted by all churches and remain a point of disagreement between western and eastern churches.
The Nicene Creed is nevertheless the most widely-accepted creed in the Christian faith, used by many denominations including the Anglican Communion. It is a reminder of the common faith we share – both with Christians around the world today and throughout history with all those who have affirmed these words over the last seventeen centuries.
We Believe resources
2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the original development of the Nicene Creed. To celebrate this, a variety of resources have been produced for the use of churches, groups and individuals.
Church House Publishing has produced a series of reflections, We Believe: Exploring the Nicene Creed. This resource unpacks the significance of each part of the creed through daily biblical reflections, which offer prompts to reflect and pray. These are available to access in the following ways:
- Booklets: Ideal for giving away at services and using with groups, new printed We Believe reflections booklets are available to pre-order now from Church House Publishing. The booklet will be available by 30 April and will be available as single copies or packs of ten. Meanwhile you can view downloadable sample pages here.
- Daily reflections via Everyday Faith app: You will be able to read and listen to all twenty-four daily We Believe reflections from 16 June (the day after Trinity Sunday) through the Everyday Faith app, the new daily devotional app from the Church of England, which is available to download here.
- Downloadable resources for parishes: Coming soon, a pack of resources to help your church engage with the Nicene Creed anniversary and the We Believe resources, either around Trinity Sunday or at any other suitable time.
- Downloadable four session plan for groups: Coming soon, a plan for small groups wishing to use the We Believe resources together
- Downloadable graphics for social media: Coming soon
A paper from the Church of England's Liturgical Commission exploring the use of the Nicene Creed in this anniversary year was prepared for the General Synod in February. It can be downloaded here.
As an occasion of ecumenical significance, Churches Together in England is marking the anniversary in a variety of ways – further information can be found here.
We Believe webinar
Join us on 1 May from 2-3pm as we explore the We Believe resources available for churches and individuals. We’ll explain what the various printed and digital resources are and how you can access them. We’ll also be available to answer any questions you might have about making the most of the ‘We Believe’ theme. Sign up to attend here. A recording of the webinar will be sent to all who register.