The Anglican Church emerged during the Protestant Reformation in England and is closely tied to the heritage of the Church of England. The term "Anglican" is derived from a word meaning "English." At the heart of our worship is the 1928 edition of the Book of Common Prayer, which reflects the traditions passed down through centuries of Christian practice and the Anglican Missal. Our beliefs are grounded in the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, a historic statement of faith that outlines core doctrinal principles rooted in the Apostolic tradition, while also allowing room for thoughtful theological diversity. The Book of Common Prayer guides our liturgy, drawing on the rich inheritance of the early Church.

The answer to that is both.

CATHOLIC — pertaining to the historic continuity of the One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church, in both essential dogma and practice (orthodoxy and orthopraxy). Catholic means universal, and this universality/catholicity is best expressed by the rule of St. Vincent of Lérins: "We believe that which has been believed in all places, at all times, by all Christian people." This especially pertains to those practices and beliefs universally affirmed by the Early Church. While many people think of the Church of Rome when they hear "Catholic," Rome does not possess a monopoly of this term. Moreover, not all things that the Roman Church practices or believes are wrong simply because Rome believes or does them. We understand that the Body & Bride of Christ—i.e., the Church—has persevered by God's grace, under the guidance and protection of the Holy Spirit, without interruption, for the past two millennia—and it continues with the Church today. While we may look back in history and disagree with some of the specific practices, beliefs, or messy circumstances that prevailed upon the Church in any given age (we may certainly take pause at the present circumstances), that doesn't in any way diminish or invalidate the tradition and inheritance to which we belong. What stands before us is to faithfully carry the tradition forward, and always seek to perfect it according to the Scriptures and with our own lives as we are called to love our God and love our neighbors. The Catholic Essentials that we hold to be true: The Three Ecumenical Creeds—the Apostles', the Nicene, and the Athanasian The Four Ecumenical Councils—Nicea, Constantinople, Ephesus, and Chalcedon The Apostolic Episcopate—Church Governance by the Bishops The Dominical Sacraments—Holy Baptism and Holy Communion Apostolic Liturgical Worship—Biblical, Sacramental, Historic, Orderly, and Participatory.

PROTESTANT — pertaining to the essential doctrines rediscovered and reestablished from the Apostolic Church during the Protestant Reformation, as well as the denouncement and discontinuation of misguided and contra-biblical doctrines and practices developed and popularized primarily within the Western Chalcedonian Church during the high and late medieval era (1100-1500AD). We subscribe to a High Augustinian soteriology, above and against those Pelagian strains of doctrines that attempt to make salvation (in any capacity or share) a product of human efforts; salvation comes from God alone, and not by any works of mankind. We also hold the Holy Scriptures to be the ultimate authority and rule of faith, to which all doctrine, piety, and practice must conform—they contain all things necessary to be believed for salvation. We stand in protest toward the errors formalized and promulgated by the General Councils of Trent, Vatican I, and Vatican II. That being said, all things we do and believe must be rooted in historic precedent and validated with Biblical truth. We did not innovate new theology in the Protestant Reformation, but rather reclaimed and restored apostolic doctrine which was buried by the innovations of the medieval era. These concerns primarily center around the Gospel of Grace. Thus Protestants are also Evangelical: we are concerned with the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ. These convictions are held across all core Protestant traditions—i.e. Anglicans, Lutherans, Moravians, and Continental Reformed—even if we don't always agree 100% on every secondary or tertiary detail. The Protestant Essentials which we hold to be true (The 5 Solae): Sola Scriptura—Scripture Alone contains all things necessary to salvation. Sola Gratia—Grace Alone effects the salvation of mankind. Sola Fide—Faith Alone is the means by which we redeem God's grace for us. Solus Christus—Christ Alone is the divine mediator and savior of mankind. Soli Deo Gloria—God Alone receives all glory, laud, and honor for our salvation.

The worship service opens with a Call to Worship, traditionally marked by the ringing of a bell. While it is now typically rung once, it was historically sounded three times from the Bell Tower.

Following this, the congregation joins in singing the Introit—a hymn sung as the clergy process toward the altar.

The priest then invites the people to join him in prayer.

He then offers the Collect for Purity, a structured prayer used to prepare our hearts for worship by focusing our minds and intentions on God in humility and reverence. 

Next, the priest either leads the congregation in reciting the Ten Commandments (commonly done on the first Sunday of each month) or reads Christ’s Summary of the Law, which distills the moral law into two great commandments.

In response, the congregation sings the Kyrie Eleison—a plea for divine mercy.

Another prayer is then offered, asking God for the grace to live in obedience to His will.

This portion of the service—focused on God’s Law—is designed to draw our attention to His holiness and to our own need for His mercy. The Decalogue, as given in the Old Testament, reveals the standard by which all are judged, showing our need for redemption through the blood of Christ. Because we believe that God is truly present with us in worship, it is only fitting that we begin by acknowledging His majesty and our total dependence on His grace. Every moment of life is a gift from Him—one we could never earn or deserve.

The liturgy 

The Liturgy of the Word is the part of the service centered on the reading and reflection of Holy Scripture. Each Sunday is marked by its own appointed collect and assigned readings from both the Epistles and the Gospels. This schedule of readings is known as The Lectionary. At St. Paul’s, we use the Authorized King James Version of the Bible—both to honor our spiritual heritage and to preserve the beauty and dignity of its language.

The Scripture portion begins with the Collect of the Day, a prayer that reflects the main themes found in that day’s readings. Following the collect, the Epistle is read aloud. After the reading, the congregation responds with gratitude.

A hymn is then sung by all, after which the Gospel passage is read. 

After the readings, the congregation joins together in affirming their faith by reciting the Nicene Creed. This is followed by a short pause in the service for community announcements and blessings—for occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, or prayers for those in need.

The sermon, typically is based on the lectionary readings and serves as the central teaching moment of this portion of the service. It brings the themes of the Scriptures into focus and helps the congregation apply God's Word to their daily lives.

After the sermon, an offertory is collected and the Doxology is sung.

The Prayer for the Whole State of Christ’s Church is read with special intentions for healing and a prayer for those departed are recited. 

This is followed by the General Confession and Absolution, the Sursum Corda, Preface, and Sanctus. The Lord’s Prayer and Prayer of Humble Access are then recited.

The congregation processes up the center aisle to the Altar Rail for Administration of Holy Communion. They process via the side aisles.



A post communion Thanksgiving is recited and the Gloria in Excelsis is sung. The congregation is then blessed and a recessional hymn is sung.