Anglican vs. Reformed: What’s the Difference?

Anglicanism and the Reformed tradition are two influential branches of Christianity with distinct histories, beliefs, and practices.

Originating in England and the Swiss-German regions, respectively, each has made a lasting impact on the global Christian landscape.

This article aims to compare Anglicanism and the Reformed tradition, highlighting key differences and similarities.

From their origins to their views on sacraments and social issues, we’ll explore what sets each apart.

Comparing Anglicanism and the Reformed Tradition: An Overview

The term “Anglicanism” comes from the Latin word “Anglicana,” meaning “English,” and the suffix “-ism” to denote the religious tradition originating in England.

“Reformed” refers to the Christian tradition that emerged from the Reformation, aiming to “reform” or improve upon existing religious practices and beliefs.

	Anglicanism	Reformed
Name	Anglicanism	Reformed Tradition
Size	Approx. 85 million worldwide	Approx. 60-80 million worldwide
Date Started	1534	Early 16th century (around 1520s)
Founder	King Henry VIII	John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli
Key Beliefs	Via Media (Middle Way), Apostolic Succession, importance of liturgy	Sovereignty of God, predestination, Covenant Theology
Key Practices	Worship services, baptism, holy communion, confirmation	Worship services, baptism, holy communion
Divisions	Church of England, Episcopal Church (USA), Anglican Church of Canada	Presbyterian, Congregational, Reformed Church in America
Central Location	Canterbury, England	No central location; strong presence in Switzerland, Scotland, and the Netherlands
Sacred Texts	Bible (Old and New Testaments), Book of Common Prayer	Bible (Old and New Testaments)

Why is Anglicanism called the Middle Way?

Anglicanism is often called “The Middle Way” because it seeks to strike a balance between Protestantism and Catholicism.

It incorporates elements of both traditions, such as the Protestant emphasis on the Bible and the Catholic focus on liturgy and sacraments, aiming for a moderate, comprehensive approach.

What is Covenant Theology?

Covenant Theology is a framework in Reformed theology that views God’s relationship with humanity through the lens of covenants, or agreements.

It typically identifies three main covenants: the Covenant of Works with Adam, the Covenant of Grace with Christ, and the Covenant of Redemption within the Trinity.

Anglican and Reformed Christianity Beliefs: Differences

Anglicans and Reformed Christians believe in the Trinity. See the table below to learn more about their similarities and differences.

	Anglican Beliefs	Reformed Beliefs
Bible	Authoritative; interpreted through tradition	Infallible and inerrant; ultimate authority
God	One God in three persons; omnipotent, omniscient	One God in three persons; sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient
Jesus Christ	Fully God and fully man; Savior of humanity	Fully God and fully man; predestined Savior
Trinity	Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; co-equal	Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; co-equal
Holy Spirit	Active in the church; sanctifies believers	Active in predestination; sanctifies believers
The Atonement	Christ’s sacrifice redeems humanity; varies by theological stance	Christ’s sacrifice predestined for the elect
The Resurrection	Literal and bodily resurrection of Jesus	Literal and bodily resurrection of Jesus
The Church	Apostolic succession; universal and local	Covenant community; universal and local
Church Tradition	Important but secondary to the Bible	Less emphasis; Bible takes precedence
The Second Coming	Awaited; details vary by theological stance	Awaited; often tied to predestination and election

Anglican and Reformed Practices Compared

	Anglican	Reformed
Worship Services	Highly liturgical, follows Book of Common Prayer	Less liturgical, focused on preaching
Sacraments	Baptism, Holy Communion, and Confirmation	Baptism and Holy Communion
Prayer	Book of Common Prayer often used	Extemporaneous; no set prayer book
Clergy	Priests, bishops; some branches ordain women	Ministers, pastors; some branches ordain women
Church Governance	Episcopal (bishops have authority)	Presbyterian or Congregational
Bible Study	Encouraged; often part of church activities	Strong emphasis; central to faith practice
Fasting	Optional; some observe Lent and Advent	Less emphasis; varies by denomination
Music	Traditional hymns; choral music common	Hymns and Psalms; some branches avoid instruments
Social Outreach	Various charitable and social justice programs	Various charitable and social justice programs

In Anglicanism, the High Church refers to Christian traditions that emphasize formal liturgy, rituals, and the authority of clergy.

Low Church, on the other hand, focuses on a simpler, less formal worship style and often gives greater emphasis to the Bible over tradition.

Communion in Anglicanism and the Reformed Tradition

	Anglican	Reformed
Nature of Elements	Real Presence or Symbolic: Views vary, but Christ is generally believed to be truly present	Spiritual Presence: Christ is spiritually, not physically, present
Who Can Participate	Baptized believers; some churches also require confirmation	Baptized believers; some churches also require a profession of faith
Frequency	Varies; often weekly in many churches	Varies; often monthly or quarterly
Form of Bread	Usually unleavened; varies by church	Usually unleavened; varies by church
Use of Wine or Grape Juice	Wine is common; some churches offer grape juice	Wine or grape juice; varies by church
Administration	By ordained clergy	By ordained clergy
Liturgical Setting	Part of the Eucharistic service; follows Book of Common Prayer	Part of regular worship service; less liturgical
Role in Salvation	Means of grace; varies by theological stance	Means of grace; strengthens faith

The Real Presence view holds that Christ is truly present in the elements of bread and wine during Communion, though not physically.

The symbolic view sees the bread and wine as mere symbols that represent Christ’s body and blood, without believing that He is actually present in them.

Baptism in Anglicanism and the Reformed Tradition

	Anglican	Reformed
Mode of Baptism	Sprinkling, pouring, or immersion	Sprinkling, pouring, or immersion
Age of Candidates	Infants and adults	Infants and adults
Who Can Baptize	Ordained clergy	Ordained clergy
Formula	Trinitarian: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”	Trinitarian: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”
Necessity for Salvation	Generally considered a means of grace; varies by theological stance	Considered a means of grace; covenantal sign and seal
Role of Faith	Faith and Baptism together are important	Faith receives the benefits of Baptism
Confirmation	Separate sacrament, usually performed later in life	Not a separate sacrament; profession of faith often required
Sponsors/Godparents	Commonly used	Less common; varies by denomination
Liturgical Setting	Part of regular worship service or special service	Part of regular worship service
Recognition by Other Denominations	Generally recognized by other Christian denominations	Generally recognized by other Christian denominations

10 Key Events in Anglican and Reformed History

Rank	Anglican History Events	Reformed History Events
1	1534: Act of Supremacy establishes Church of England	1523: Zwingli’s 67 Articles in Zurich
2	1549: First Book of Common Prayer published	1536: Calvin’s “Institutes of the Christian Religion” published
3	1559: Elizabethan Religious Settlement	1541: Calvin returns to Geneva
4	1604: King James Version of the Bible published	1561: Belgic Confession adopted
5	1662: Revised Book of Common Prayer published	1618-1619: Synod of Dort
6	1789: Episcopal Church in the U.S. established	1643-1647: Westminster Assembly
7	1867: First Lambeth Conference	1706: First American presbytery in Philadelphia
8	1888: Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral adopted	1816: American Bible Society founded
9	1960s: Anglican Communion expands ordination of women	1924: “Five Points of Calvinism” formulated
10	2003: Gene Robinson, openly gay bishop, consecrated	1948: World Council of Churches founded