What we believe

Our statement of faith

As members of the Anglican Communion within the one, holy, catholic (universal) and apostolic church we affirm the faith uniquely revealed in the holy Scriptures, set forth in the creeds and the thirty-nine articles of religion.

A summary of our key beliefs are as follows

 

  • The one true God who lives eternally, is communion of three persons—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

  • The love, grace and sovereignty of God in creating, sustaining, ruling, redeeming and judging the world.

  • The divine inspiration of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, which are the written Word of God—fully trustworthy for faith and conduct. He thus gives assurance that these writings convey without error his saving truth.

  • The dignity of all people, made male and female in God's image to love, be holy and care for creation, yet corrupted by sin, which incurs divine wrath and judgement.

  • The incarnation of God’s eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ—born of the virgin Mary; truly divine and truly human, yet without sin.

  • The atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross: dying in our place, paying the price of sin, and defeating evil, so reconciling us with God.

  • The bodily resurrection of Christ, the first fruits of our resurrection; his ascension to the Father, and his reign and mediation as the only Saviour of the world.

  • The ministry of God the Holy Spirit, who leads us to repentance, unites us with Christ through new birth, empowers our discipleship and enables our witness.

  • The Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion that proclaim the gospel as effective and visible signs of our justification and sanctification, and as true means of God’s grace to those who repent and believe.

  • The Church, the body of Christ both local and universal, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. Given life by the Spirit and endowed with the Spirit's gifts to worship God by sacrificial living, proclaim the gospel by making disciples and promote justice by compassionately caring for the needy and God’s creation.

  • As the Lord Jesus ascended to his Father, there will be a personal and visible return of Jesus Christ to fulfil the purposes of God, who will raise all people to judgement, bring eternal life to the redeemed and eternal condemnation to the lost, and establish a new heaven and new earth.

 

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

— Hebrews 1:1-3

The Nicene Creed

 

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

The Apostles Creed

 

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.