What is Anglo-Catholocism?

John Baiamonte, Ph.D.

Grace Memorial Parishioner, Vestry Member, and Christian Education Leader

​Anglo-Catholicism was part of the Oxford Movement of the 19th century which
advocated Catholic thought and practice in the Church of England. Leaders of the
Oxford Movement wanted to demonstrate the historical continuity of the Anglican
Church with Catholic Christianity.

​Anglo-Catholics were working among the poor and unchurched, but their beliefs and
activities were often opposed by Anglican 

Evangelicals who wanted to stress the Protestant heritage of Anglicanism. Sometimes they were called “high churchmen” because they give a “high” place to the importance of the episcopal form of church government, sacraments, and liturgical worship. Actually high church and low church were evident in the Church of England from the time of Elizabeth I (1553-1603). The Oxford Movement and Anglo-Catholicism renewed this emphasis within the Church of England.

Anglo-Catholicism strives to maintain the theology, practice, and devotion of the ancient and undivided Church (pre-1054). Anglo-Catholics celebrate the seven sacraments with an emphasis on the Eucharistic Sacrifice and baptism. The 39 Articles of religion are viewed as historic documents that need to be read through the lens of the larger catholic tradition. You can read them in our Book of Common Prayer on pages 867-876. Anglo-Catholicism believes it fundamentally shares the same heritage as Roman Catholics. However, becoming a Roman Catholic is not its goal.

Many Anglo-Catholic churches prefer to use what is called the Anglican Missal which restores many parts of the ancient Mass which were edited out of the original Book of Common Prayer. However, the Anglican Missal is declining in use because the most recent BCP, approved in 1979, incorporated many catholic elements back into the Prayerbook.

Outside of America Anglo-Catholics have many different practices. Some use the Anglican Missal or the BCP. Anglican churches in England and Australia conduct a straight Gregorian Mass with a traditional Latin Mass like the Roman Catholics but in English maybe Latin! Contemporary Anglo-Catholics may even use the current addition of the Roman Missal, but adhere to keeping the traditional vestments, gestures and rituals.

Many aspects of liturgy of Anglicanism and the Episcopal church were originated by Anglo-Catholics. For example, Grace Memorial celebrates Communion weekly, but it is my understanding from “cradle Episcopalians” this was not always true. Other Anglo-Catholic practices we have are putting candles on the altar, bowing or genuflecting in the service, using incense, and putting a colored stole on the priest. We practice the invocation of the saints during our services. However,
we don’t take up the Rosary as a daily devotion, but we so include the Angelus in Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer.

This is only a brief introduction to Anglo-Catholicism. If you wish to learn more just Google the topic. Better yet, consult Amazon’s vast library.