Something Understood

Within the broad sphere of Anglican/Episcopalian identities, Anglo-Catholicism holds a small but important place. Other than that it is the "High Church" end of the spectrum, though, no clear definition of Anglo-Catholicism exists.

Once upon a time, it was easier. Anglo-Catholics wore albs when evangelicals would wear cassock and surplice. Anglo-Catholics would have candles on the altar. Anglo-Catholics would have Communion every Sunday, while the Evangelicals were having Morning Prayer most of the time. But things have changed. The Liturgical Renewal of the last century means that, really, most of these markers have been obliterated. Everyone's got candles now.

Anglo-Catholics, certainly, are likely to have liturgies that are more ceremonially effusive; more "smells and bells". But Anglo-Catholicism goes beyond what is essentially an aesthetic orientation. There's theology and history underlying all of this.

But not just one theology. The Oxford Movement, which most consider to the be the birth of Anglo-Catholicism, became primarily a conservative movement, especially after Newman became Roman Catholic. Even now, the conservative, traditionalist wing of Anglo-Catholicism is well organized and represented, with such groups as Forward in Faith, and such bishops as +Iker (Fort Worth), +Ackerman(Quincy).

And yet there is a liberal, progressive Anglo-Catholic wing, too. Dating back to the time of Charles Gore and F. D. Maurice, Anglo-Catholicism's focus on the Incarnation has found sympathetic resonance with Christian Socialism. In England, the Jubilee Group started in 1974, and finally, recently, gave way to the Society of Sacramental Socialists. Getting away from socialism, there is also Affirming Catholicism, which has both UK and US branches (although the US branch seems to have gone a bit quiet of late) which is dedicated to the broad progressive approach within Anglo-Catholicism.