What is Anglicanism: Church and Sacraments article 5 of 12

For a thousand years (from the 4th century to the 1500s) the Church was closely tied to European political powers. On the continent, 16th Century Protestants attempted to reform the church which they deemed corrupted by worldliness and papal abuses. Ultimately these reforms lead to doctrinal differences and were followed by splits in the Western church. At that time in England, King Henry VIII, a proponent of hierarchy, defended the papacy. That is, until he infamously declared himself Head of the Church in England. Contrary to what is widely taught as a divorce, Henry had requested an annulment on theological grounds; this request was rejected by the pope due to international political pressures. Theologically, Henry was very much a catholic and his only intention was to remove England from under the authority of the Pope in Rome.

Subsequent heirs of Henry were influenced by Reform and Roman Catholic theologians resulting in a tug-of-war between ideologies for power. Decades of back-and-forth, was often violent resulting in years of civil war involving the church, the crown, and the right of the people to rule the nation. When the smoke finally cleared a constitutional monarchy was established and greater lenience was given in religious life.  

Decidedly, the church would be more Reform in its doctrine and practices and retain the catholic structures of priests and bishops. Reform influence significantly deconstructed the liturgy and sacramental life of the church in England. Worship emphasized preaching, prayers, and reading of Scripture but neglected much of the ritual of the church regarding it as "popery."

By the 19th century many perceived a considerable apathy in the life of the church. In response the Oxford Movement arose writing tracts defending many traditions of the church that had been rejected at the Reformation. These “Tractarians” began to emphasize the sacraments and liturgy as the way that God conveys grace to his people. As this was a recovery of catholic theology and practices, it was met with resistance within the Church as well as the state. The Tractarians worked to restore Liturgical Beauty in the worship of God, hoping to reflect God’s Kingdom here on earth. Their theology embraced the belief that the Church itself is a sacrament of God.

In the same way that Christ is Present in the Bread and Wine of Holy Eucharist so he is also Present in his Church, the Body. This has tremendous significance for each Anglican person because together we are the Body. So it follows, that when others see the Church they should see Christ. This is the nature of a sacrament; it is the presence or grace of God in common things. The Church, the people of God, is the continuing Incarnation of Christ on earth until his return.

The Church, being the first sacrament conveys God’s grace to the world. Of the Sacraments, Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist are cardinal, both given to the Church in Scripture by Christ Jesus himself. Baptism is the entrance into the Body of Christ, and in it we identify with Christ in his death and his resurrection. Through the waters of baptism our old lives have died and our new life is in Christ Jesus. In the Eucharist we are re-presented with the sacrifice that Christ made on our behalf. We are joined with him and given freedom from our fallen state.

Anglicans accept that there are other sacraments known to the church, confirmation, reconciliation (confession), Holy Matrimony, unction, and ordination. These rites are found in Scripture as well and are outlined in the liturgies of the Book of Common Prayer

Anglicans also accept that God works his grace in other ways that reflects sacramental theology. As the church is the first sacrament then those blessings such as the life of a child or the joy in creation also have been known to be called sacramental.