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Anglicanism Pure and Simple

Heather, CG and I have been visiting an Anglican church in Birmingham. In each Sunday’s bulletin the Rector, Roger Salter, has an article. This is one from a few weeks back that I thought was good.

Anglicanism is simply the product of the Bible having its way in the England of the 16th century. The Christian church was in the process of purification and reform through a return to the teaching of Holy Scripture and the effects were sound doctrine and worthy worship. From its source in Scripture the founding manual of Anglicanism, the Book of Common Prayer, was compiled. The chief hand in its formulation was that of liturgical genius and theologian Thomas Cranmer, but his work was assisted by fellow bishops and Reformers in England and examined and approved by leading Reformers from the continent. This precious volume sums up, in essence, the heritage bequeathed to us by our founders and its content, devotional and doctrinal, still defines authentic Anglicanism to this day. Anglicanism is rooted in Holy Scripture, expounded through the Thirty-Nine Articles, and translated into worship through the Cranmerian liturgy. Preaching, teaching, worship, and pastoral practice that are not related to and continuous with the Book of Common Prayer are not Anglican. All may be Christian to a greater or lesser extent, but unless they preserve something of the character and lineage of the Prayer Book they hardly warrant the appellation of ?Anglican?.