We have already looked at our roots as Anglicans – and in doing so we noted that the last words of Jesus at the Ascension, have echoed in the hearts of Anglican Christians through the ages ‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them … and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you’. And it is without a doubt that Anglicans have played an important part in the spread of the Christian faith throughout the world.
Did you know for example that there are nearly 70 million members of the Anglican family in 37 self-governing Provinces in more than 160 countries. And I guess if one wanted to know what an average Anglican looks like, She would be black, aged 26 and live in Africa. Quite a change from our early beginnings.
The church in England survived the turbulent times of the Tudor period of Henry VIII through to Elizabeth I and I believe Christendom was forever the richer by its survival. Because through the turmoil the special emphases of the Anglican Church developed; Emphases which are;
Following the break from Rome in the 16th century, Anglicanism was later established by colonisation in places such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Southern Africa, and the USA.
The second stage began in the late 18th century. During that era Anglican churches were planted all over the world. Using Canada as an example, the first consecration of a Bishop for work in the so-called British Colonies overseas was that of Charles Inglis for Nova Scotia in 1787.
However, though Charles may have been the first overseas Bishop, the true beginnings of the Anglican Church in Canada began with the early colonists and the chaplains who accompanied them. The first Eucharist being celebrated in Frobisher Bay in 1578. But the first officially recognised Priest was in 1699 when ‘The Planters of St John’s Harbour’ petitioned the Bishop of London for a ‘sober Clergyman’ to rebuild a church which was destroyed by the French.
By 1793 the needs of Canada were recognised by the consecration of Revd. Mountain Jacob to be Bishop of Quebec. At this time there were 9 priests, six in Upper Canada and three in Lower Canada. In Upper Canada immigration from the British Isles was rapid especially in Toronto and by 1862 the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada was formed.
In 1867 the Dominion of Canada was constituted and it was discovered that the great prairies of Canada’s Middle West offered the finest wheat growing lands in the world. Immigrants mostly of English speech poured in and at this time, ‘the hour was matched by the man’, In 1865 Robert Machray, a Scot born in Aberdeen became Bishop of Rupert’s Land at the age of 34. Machray was to become one of the greatest churchman in the history of the Anglican Communion and was to become the first Primate of all Canada and principal of the university of Manitoba.
However, unlike Africa, Australia and South India, it has to be said that in Canada the Anglican church in some respects failed to rise to the height of its opportunities; and there is still a lot of missionary work to be done.
But having said that, Canada was to become another first in the Anglican Communion. In a dominion proud of its independence, it could not be regarded as suitable that this independent church should continue to be known as ‘The Church of England in Canada’ So in 1955 it adopted the new name of the ‘The Anglican Church of Canada’ – the first of all the Churches in our communion officially to adopt the term ‘Anglican’ in its title. By 1961 the Anglican Church in Canada had its own prayer book based largely on the Book of Common Prayer and a complimentary book ‘the Book of Alternative services’ came into effect in 1985.
Canada is but part of a wonderful communion of churches – a communion growing daily. The Africa churches for example are growing at a phenomenal rate as revival has struck many parts of that continent especially in the province of Uganda whom we pray for today.
There is also growth in the ecumenical sense. The English church in its early days owed much to Luther and just last July it was wonderful to note that the Evangelical Lutheran Church entered into full communion with the Anglican Church in Canada just as their Scandinavian and Nordic brothers and sisters did just three years previously through the Porvoo agreement.
Ecumenical outreach has always been a strong emphasis of Anglicanism. A fact noted in our open invitation to anyone, of any denomination, who is a full member or communicant member of their church to receive communion in any Anglican Church in the world. No one is refused the bread of life and the cup of salvation provided that they are in full communion with their own church persuasion.
This strong ecumenical emphasis was also witnessed in Thomas Cranmer the Archbishop who led the Church in England away from Rome. That may seem a contradiction in terms but he wanted all the reformed churches of the 16th Century to join together to form a Council of churches but this was not to be.
It wasn’t until 1870 when an American Episcopalian William Huntingdon put forward the framework, now known and accepted as the Lambeth Quadrilateral, in his book ‘the Church Idea, an essay toward unity’, that real ecumenical links started to be forged.
The essentials of the Lambeth Quadrilateral being; The acceptance of the Holy Scriptures as containing all things necessary for salvation - The Nicene Creed as the sufficient statement of the faith - The Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion as instituted by Christ himself - And the Historic episcopate locally adapted to the needs of various regions and peoples. The appeal ends with the words, ‘We do not ask that any one communion should consent to be absorbed in another. We do ask that all should unite in a new and great endeavour to secure and to manifest to the world the unity of the Body of Christ for which he prayed’.
So where have our ecumenical endeavours led us? Well as I have already mentioned; To full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Amen
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