THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION


The Anglican Communion is a worldwide family of Churches comprising more than 70 million believers in 39 Provinces spread across 161 countries. For the past 400 years, the Anglican Church has kept its distinctive nature. We trace our roots back to the earliest Christian Church and to the Reformation in 17th century Europe. In some countries, the Anglican Church is better known as the Episcopal Church.


St. Matthew's Anglican Church is part of the Diocese of Egypt, North Africa and the Horn of Africa, within the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. Our Diocesan Bishop is the Rt. Revd. Dr. Mouneer Hana Anis, who is based in Cairo. In 2007, a new Episcopal area within the diocese was formed, to serve Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. The first Area Bishop is the Right Revd Andrew Proud (formerly chaplain at St Matthew’s).


Stages of development

There have been three main stages in the development and spread of the global Anglican Communion:

  • In the 17th century, Anglicanism was established wherever the English settled; in America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.


  • By the 18th century, Anglican missionaries worked to establish churches in Africa, Asia and Latin America.


  • In the 19th and 20th centuries, independent self-governing dioceses within the worldwide Anglican communion were established in practically every country.

    • Although Anglicans speak many different languages and come from different races and cultures, we are united through a shared history, theology, worship and through our relationship with the ancient See (Diocese) of Canterbury.


    ANGLICAN BELIEFS AND STRUCTURES

    Anglicans hold that:

  • The Old and New Testaments contain "all things necessary to salvation" and are the rule and ultimate standard of Christian faith and life.


  • The Apostles' Creed expresses our Baptismal faith and the Nicene Creed contains all that binds Christians together and unites them through time and in different places.


  • There are two sacraments, instituted by Jesus himself - Baptism and the Lord's Supper (also called the Eucharist, Holy Communion and the Mass).


  • We have always stood for open, congregational worship in the local language, with a serious proclamation of the Word of God. The Eucharist is central to Anglican worship, although the style in which it is offered varies considerably, from the simple to the elaborate. In its Liturgy, the Anglican Church has always tried to hold the balance between the old and new.


  • Anglicans still maintain the threefold ministry of the early Church: Bishops, Priests (or Presbyters) and Deacons. Bishops provide the focus for our unity as a Communion and offer a framework for our ministry and mission to the world. However, in the spirit of Anglicanism, each Province is free to adapt the way Bishops are used, to fit their local needs.


  • The Anglican Communion is an interdependent family of Churches, where parishes, dioceses and provinces support, challenge and encourage each other and share resources in order to bring people to Christ.
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