What is an Anglican?
Anglicans were the fore-runners of the Protestant Reformation in England, many of whom gave their lives as martyrs, convinced of the need that the Scriptures be put in the hands of all people and that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone - not a result of our works.
The River is thankful to be a part of the Anglican Church in North America, which firmly believes in the integrity of Scripture as well as the Divinity of Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
Anglicanism FAQ
Below are a few questions we often hear from people new to Anglicanism. The answers are not meant to be comprehensive. For a deeper dive into these questions, contact one of our staff or clergy or sign up for The River's Anglicanism 101 and Anglicanism 102 classes that are offered throughout the year.
The term "catholic" (not Roman Catholic) means "universal," as in "the universal church" and originally applied to all Christians. The Anglican Church has existed since the first few centuries of Christianity so, in this way, we have a "catholic" heritage - a continuation of of the church from those early days when the Christian Church was undivided or universal.
Anglicanism is a "reformed catholic" tradition, following the "catholic" or "universal" practices of the ancient Christian Church but "reformed" in that it returned to the Scriptures and protested or rejected the abuse and corruptions of the medieval church during the Reformation. As such, the Anglican Church is a Protestant denomination.
We do baptize infants at The River. Many Christians throughout history have baptized infants. Within our congregation, we have a variety of beliefs regarding baptism. While we encourage parents to have children baptized, it is not a condition of membership. We just ask that members recognize this standard practice for Anglicans and respect it.
Holy Communion, also known as the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist, has been held weekly on Sundays by most churches from the earliest recorded history of the Church. Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper (I Corinthians 11:25) and the earliest churches "broke bread" when they gathered (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2).
Have a question about Anglicanism?
Our staff and clergy are always willing to answer any questions you may have.
Want to know more?
The River offers two classes to help you learn more about Anglicanism. These classes are offered multiple times throughout the year.
- Anglicanism 101: An Introduction to Liturgy - What we Do in Worship and Why.
- Anglicanism 102: A more in-depth look at the history of Anglicanism, the Sacraments, and the rite of Confirmation.
Please check the Upcoming Events page for dates and times of the next classes.