84%
Confidence
Belief overview
Visible, catholic, and reformed Church
The Church is seen as a visible community that seeks continuity with ancient faith and ongoing reform.
4
Supportive
0
Contrary
0
Neutral
What it is: Anglicanism often understands itself as part of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, while also recognizing itself as Reformed in its Western history.
How the tradition understands it: The Church is seen as a visible, sacramental, and historical community, not merely as an invisible association of individuals. The theme appears in liturgy and creeds as well as in confessional and ecumenical texts.
Textual or traditional basis: Ephesians 4, Article XIX, the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral, and ecumenical appeals from Lambeth are common references.
Historical context: This self-understanding allowed Anglicanism to claim continuity with the ancient Church without accepting every later formulation of Western Christianity.
Common objections: Some criticize the expression as too ambiguous between catholic identity and reformed identity.
Internal variations: Anglo-Catholic currents emphasize catholic continuity more; evangelical currents highlight the reformed dimension more.
Documentary evidence
Supportive
Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral
Ecumenical summary of four central elements of Anglican identity.
Reference: Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral.
Content: The text highlights Scripture, creeds, two dominical sacraments, and the historic episcopate locally adapted.
Use in debate: It is widely used to present Anglicanism in ecumenical and institutional contexts.
Ephesians 4:4-6
One body, one Spirit, and one faith.
Reference: Ephesians 4:4-6.
Content: The text presents the unity of the Church and of the Christian faith.
Use in debate: It is used in ecclesiology, ecumenism, and understanding the Church as a visible communion.
Lambeth Conference 1920, Appeal to All Christian People
Important ecumenical appeal for the tradition's self-understanding.
Reference: Lambeth Conference 1920, Appeal to All Christian People.
Content: The text presents an invitation to Christian unity with emphasis on apostolic faith, ministry, and visible communion.
Use in debate: It is frequently cited in ecumenism and in Anglican self-perception as part of the catholic and reformed Church.
Thirty-Nine Articles, Article XIX
Definition of the visible Church.
Reference: Thirty-Nine Articles, Article XIX.
Content: The article defines the visible Church as a congregation of faithful people in which the Word is preached and the sacraments are duly ministered.
Use in debate: It is important for classical Anglican ecclesiology.