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Anglican Church of Canada
Description
The Anglican Church is a community of Christians with more than 70 million members around the world. In Canada, its proper title is the Anglican Church of Canada. Its counterparts in other countries are the Church of England and the Episcopal Church. The Archbishop of Canterbury, in England, is the primate, or head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, with no governing authority but regarded as the spiritual head.
The Anglican tradition dates to the first or second century CE. It did not emerge as a distinct denomination until the 16th century, when reform was taking place in the Church. Anglican reformers chose a middle ground between the Roman Catholicism of the time and the various forms of Protestantism that had developed in Europe during the Reformation.
The spread of Anglicanism parallels the expansion of British imperial power to North America, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Extension of the Church continued when missionaries of the Church of England moved beyond the colonies to other countries and regions in Asia, Africa and South America to establish churches and continue to spread the religion.
At the head of the Anglican Church of Canada is the primate, with four Ecclesiastical provinces comprising 29 regional groupings, called dioceses. At the head of each diocese is an elected diocesan bishop, who presides over a Synod of clergy and elected lay members from each congregation. The dioceses are further grouped under metropolitan provinces, led by archbishops. The primate presides over the Anglican General Synod, which assembles every three years, but neither the primate nor the General Synod has any authority over the individual dioceses.
As Christians, Anglicans profess the commonly accepted creeds of the Christian community, stating their belief in the Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Though the Anglican community shares much of its tradition and liturgy with the Roman Catholic Church, it also shares many of the principles of the Reformation with the Protestant community. Anglican congregations may, therefore, vary in their nature, being more traditional or more reformist, while still forming part of the larger Anglican union, which is open to such diversity of practice.
Religious Elements
Scriptural and Doctrinal Sources
Scripture is the Word of God written in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Anglicans profess three statements of belief: the Nicene Creed, Athanasius’s Creed and the Apostles’ Creed, all dating from the ancient Christian Church. The 39 Articles of Religion define the doctrine of the Anglican Church.
Sacraments
Moral Code
The moral code is based on the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus Christ. Anglicans strive to follow Christ’s teachings of compassion, justice, mercy, respect and love toward others. Anglicans also subscribe to the concept of stewardship, which is founded in the belief that all things in creation (including one’s own talents, skills and financial resources) come from God, who trusts that His gifts will be used wisely and responsibly./
Houses of Worship
Houses of worship vary in architectural style from early Canadian wood structures to neo-Gothic and modern buildings of stone and brick. The interior layout is patterned on that of the modified Roman basilica of Europe and North America and consists of a narthex (vestibule); a nave (large space for the congregation); and a chancel, or sanctuary (elevated space around the altar for clergy, choir, acolytes), which is separated from the nave by a rood screen or railing. The size of the building generally reflects the size of the congregation. Churches commonly have a bell tower or a steeple bearing a cross. A cathedral in the Anglican Church is a church that is the official seat of a bishop.
Devotional Practices and Services
Parishioners join in common prayer. Bible readings. Sung words of praise and song are a part of the service. Varied rituals, colours and symbols are important aspects of the liturgy. Styles of worship vary from the simple to the elaborate, from evangelical or reformed to Anglo-Catholic, from charismatic to contemplative, depending on the tradition and preferences of the individual congregation. - Canadian Anglicans use two worship books, The Book of Common Prayer and the Book of Alternative Services:
The Book of Common Prayer evolved from rites of the 16th century and uses English language in the style of that century. Although different from modern liturgies, it is preferred by many Anglicans for its beauty and the sense of tradition it brings to services and they consider it a great aid to their devotions. It remains the Church’s official prayer book. The Book of Alternative Services, published in 1985, introduced more contemporary language to services and rituals. Its prayer forms draw on a broad range of traditional resources, as well as modern resources of the Anglican Communion.
Clergy, Organization and Government
Every three years, representatives from Canadian dioceses meet in General Synod to discuss the national work of the Church. Between the meetings, the Council of General Synod is authorized to make decisions on behalf of the wider church. The House of Bishops, which is a gathering of bishops and archbishops from across Canada, gives other counsel or advice. The bishops meet regularly to consult each other on spiritual, moral and leadership issues. The Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada has a variety of roles in the life of the Church, including President of the General Synod, Chair of the Council of General Synod and Chair of the House of Bishops. The position also calls for the Primate to be the “Chief Executive Officer” of the staff of General Synod. The clergy comprises bishops, priests, and deacons.
Propagation of the Faith
The Anglican Church of Canada participates actively in sending and maintaining missions to remote regions of Canada. Through partnership arrangements within the worldwide Anglican community it supports Christian missions abroad by assigning personnel, volunteer workers and funding.
Major Celebrations and Observances
Dates on which events are celebrated may vary from year to year according to variations in the liturgical calendar.
Days of Regular Observance
Every Sunday: day of rest and worship. Advent (preparation for Christmas). Christmas Day: 25 December. Epiphany (manifestation of Jesus; visit by the Magi). Baptism of Jesus. Ash Wednesday (beginning of Lent). Passion Sunday/Palm Sunday (Jesus enters Jerusalem; His betrayal and trial). Maundy Thursday (the Last Supper). Good Friday (Jesus’ crucifixion). Easter Sunday (Jesus’ resurrection). Ascension Day (Jesus’ ascension to heaven): 40 days after Easter. Pentecost (birth of the Christian Church): 10 days after Ascension Day. Trinity Sunday. Thanksgiving. All Saints’ Day (commemorates saints and martyrs): 1 November.
Special Observances
Lent (period of fasting and abstinence in preparation for Easter). Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Feast of John the Baptist. Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Transfiguration of Jesus. Feast of Mary, Mother of God. Feast of Michael and all Angels. Feast of Saint Andrew.
Dress Requirements
Dietary Requirements
Medical and Health Requirements
Abortion is always the taking of a human life, in the view of the Church, and should never be done except for serious therapeutic reasons. The Church does not object to blood transfusions or organ transplants.
Death and Burial
Last rites are appropriate for all Christians. If hospitalized, patients should be asked if they would like to see a chaplain or their local priest. Prayers may be said at the bedside of a dying patient. The family or the patient may ask to receive the anointing of the sick. This involves anointing with holy oil. After death, some families offer prayers of thanksgiving for the person’s life. Funeral services are normally conducted in church.
Other
In 2001, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Anglican Church of Canada established “full communion” by signing the Waterloo Declaration. By signing this document, the two Churches recognized the legitimacy and apostolic authority of each other’s bishops and acknowledged the legitimacy of ordination of the pastors and priests of the two Churches. Sharing of the Eucharist had been agreed to in 1989. The two churches undertook to continue working towards full, visible unity of “the whole church of God.”
Sources of Additional Information
http://www.anglicansonline.org/canada/ — information resources for the Anglican Church of Canada.
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/index.html — new portal to the international Anglican community.
http://anglican.ca/ — official website of the Anglican Church of Canada.
Anglican Church of Canada
600 Jarvis Street
Toronto, ON M4Y 2J6
Phone: (416) 924-9192
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