The Anglican Tradition: Three Streams, One River
The genius of Anglicanism is that for five hundred years it has held in creative tension three different strands of Biblical Christianity. Those three streams are the Protestant (Evangelical), the Pentecostal/Holiness (Charismatic) and the AngloCatholic (Sacramental) movements.
When the Church of England separated from Rome in 1534, its leader was not a world-class theologian like Martin Luther or John Calvin. Its earthly head was a canny monarch named Henry Tudor, the Eighth of that name. Henry was a monster. He was cruel, vain, foolish and self-indulgent (remember his six wives). He cut England off from Rome not for theological reasons, but because he wanted to marry Anne Boleyn and to seize the English Church’s extensive lands. Henry had Protestant advisers like his Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer. But Henry was in charge.
If Henry founded the Church of England for ignoble reasons, God meant it for good. The Church of England had no single dominant theologian. Cranmer was a competent thinker and a composer of exquisite prose – see his magnificent Prayer Book – but he was not a Luther. This fact meant that over the next five hundred years, Anglicanism was free to extrapolate in three directions from the basic Biblical Christianity that Cranmer had affirmed.
Rev. Dr. Les Fairfield. “The Apostle.” edition May 2012.
The three streams of Anglicanism are Evangelical, Charismatic and Sacramental.
Evangelical Stream
This stream emphasizes the supreme authority of the Holy Scriptures in faith and life, as well as the urgency of evangelism and mission here and abroad.
Charismatic Stream
This stream emphasizes the present work of The Holy Spirit in miraculous power in the life of the believer and the Church. The Holy Spirit enables us to hear God's voice, to remain committed in our relationship with Him and to live in His love.
Sacramental Stream
This stream emphasizes the role of the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Eucharist (Communion), and the traditional orders of ordained ministry. It recognizes that the Holy Spirit has been at work in the church for 2000 years, and we draw on this orthodox faith in our sacraments.
Our worship services display all three streams through prayer, worship and Communion.
The genius of Anglicanism is that for five hundred years it has held in creative tension three different strands of Biblical Christianity. Those three streams are the Protestant (Evangelical), the Pentecostal/Holiness (Charismatic) and the AngloCatholic (Sacramental) movements.
When the Church of England separated from Rome in 1534, its leader was not a world-class theologian like Martin Luther or John Calvin. Its earthly head was a canny monarch named Henry Tudor, the Eighth of that name. Henry was a monster. He was cruel, vain, foolish and self-indulgent (remember his six wives). He cut England off from Rome not for theological reasons, but because he wanted to marry Anne Boleyn and to seize the English Church’s extensive lands. Henry had Protestant advisers like his Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer. But Henry was in charge.
If Henry founded the Church of England for ignoble reasons, God meant it for good. The Church of England had no single dominant theologian. Cranmer was a competent thinker and a composer of exquisite prose – see his magnificent Prayer Book – but he was not a Luther. This fact meant that over the next five hundred years, Anglicanism was free to extrapolate in three directions from the basic Biblical Christianity that Cranmer had affirmed.
Rev. Dr. Les Fairfield. “The Apostle.” edition May 2012.
The three streams of Anglicanism are Evangelical, Charismatic and Sacramental.
Evangelical Stream
This stream emphasizes the supreme authority of the Holy Scriptures in faith and life, as well as the urgency of evangelism and mission here and abroad.
Charismatic Stream
This stream emphasizes the present work of The Holy Spirit in miraculous power in the life of the believer and the Church. The Holy Spirit enables us to hear God's voice, to remain committed in our relationship with Him and to live in His love.
Sacramental Stream
This stream emphasizes the role of the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Eucharist (Communion), and the traditional orders of ordained ministry. It recognizes that the Holy Spirit has been at work in the church for 2000 years, and we draw on this orthodox faith in our sacraments.
Our worship services display all three streams through prayer, worship and Communion.