As far as I am aware, unlike the UCCF doctrinal basis and the Christian Unions, in many of today’s Anglican Churches the Thirty-Nine Articles are seldom mentioned. Nevertheless, the current Canon (or “Church law”) A5 of the Church of England (Sixth Edition, 2006) highlights them as being very significant:
The doctrine of the Church of England is grounded in the Holy Scriptures, and in such teachings of the ancient Fathers and Councils of the Church as are agreeable to the said Scriptures. In particular such doctrine is to be found in the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Ordinal.1
The Thirty-Nine Articles, finalised in 1571, form the doctrinal statement of faith of the Church of England. They contain 39 brief statements of doctrine (or “teaching”) and can broadly be split up into four parts. Firstly, Articles I to V (1 to 5) are about God, and have be subtitled the “substance of faith.” Secondly, Articles VI to VIII (6 to 8) cover the Bible and the Creeds, and have been summarised as “the rule of faith.” Articles IX to XVIII (9 to 18) concern the “life of faith;” they are about doctrines connected to salvation, being declared in a right relationship with God “justification” and living the Christian life, growing more like the Lord Jesus “sanctification.” Finally, Articles XIX to IXXXX (19 to 39) detail the “household of faith” and cover the Church, ministry, Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, discipline, and the state.2
The 1662 Book of Common Prayer, contains the structure, Bible readings, prayers and order for Church meetings, such as Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer and Holy Communion, which necessarily teach doctrine. The Ordinal is the order for meetings where Church leaders are commissioned: deacons and presbyters (pastors) are ordained and bishops (pastors with a wider responsibility) are consecrated. They have been collectively called the formularies of the Church of England. They continue, as outlined by Canon A5, to form the confession of the Anglican Church, and are still meant to bind the Church of England and be assented to by all Church of England clergy.
These are the “title deeds” of the Church of England, and we will investigate whether they belong to the Evangelical and Reformed heritage of the Church. A number of societies are keen to uphold them and contend for the truths contained in them, notably in the UK: Church Society, Reform and the Fellowship of Word and Spirit; and in Australia: the Anglican Church League. The Articles still remain important for Anglicans around the world. For example, the Diocese of Sydney, Church of England in South Africa (CESA) and Church of Nigeria all place a high value on them. They are a significant source of unity, and as the Church of Nigeria’s constitution explains:
…The Church of Nigeria… shall be in full communion with all Anglican Churches Dioceses and Provinces that hold and maintain the Historic Faith, Doctrine, Sacrament and Discipline of the one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church as the Lord has commanded in His holy word and as the same are received as taught in the Book of Common Prayer and the ordinal of 1662 and in the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion.3
I am certainly not seeking to argue here that the Thirty-Nine Articles or the Book of Common Prayer are perfect. In fact very far from it! However, I hope I can demonstrate that some of the important Biblical truths of Christianity are evident in the formularies of the Church of England. An essay about the history of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney explains:
the Thirty-nine Articles …are recognized in the constitution of most national Anglican churches. These Articles naturally reflect the era in which they were written in language, doctrine and in the abuses they were intended to combat. Many present-day Anglicans therefore are uncomfortable with their content and emphasis. Yet the principles they enshrine remain vital.4
If you are wondering why such old Articles might be relevant today, and what their modern day application might be, J. I. Packer thoughtfully asserts:
…an Anglican theology that is determined to cleave to the gospel will find the Articles as relevant at they ever were.5
In future posts I’ll seek to investigate some of the Biblical truths that they contain.
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1Canon A5 of the Canons of the Church of England, (Church House Publishing, Sixth Edition, 2000), p. 7, available here, (Accessed 24/05/07)
2I think this break down was suggested by W. H. Griffith-Thomas, more here, (Accessed 24/02/07)
3Constitution of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), 2002, p. 2, available here, (Accessed 24/05/07)
4Lesley Hicks, The History of the Sydney Diocese, (SydneyAnglicans.net, compiled October 1994), pp. 4-5, available here, (Acessed 24/07/07)
5J.I. Packer and R.T. Beckwith, The Thirty-Nine Articles, Their Place and Use Today, (Latimer Trust, 2nd Edition, 2006), p. 80
Posted in Anglicanism, Confessions, UCCF
