“Anglican” refers to the branch of the Christian Church that traces its roots back to the Church of England. Although the Church of England emerged as something distinctly separate from the Roman Catholic Church during the 16th-century English Reformation, Christianity has been present in the British Isles since at least the fourth century AD. So, although the word “Anglicanism” wasn’t coined until the 19th century, and although the 16-century English Reformation undoubtedly shaped Anglican identity, the roots of the Anglican tradition go back much earlier than the 16th century.

Today there are Anglican churches all around the world, and not just in England, because the Church of England went global through overseas mission and evangelism. This global family of churches is known as the Anglican Communion. St Augustine’s Church is part of the Anglican Diocese of Adelaide, which in turn is part of the Anglican Church in Australia.

The Anglican ethos has often been described in the Latin phrase via media (middle way). The desire of the early Anglican reformers was to stay true to the faith and convictions taught in Scripture but in a way that was accessible and relevant to the people of the 16th-century England. So right at the heart of Anglican Christianity is a desire to be simultaneously rooted and relevant, ancient and modern, traditional and innovative. Nowhere is this more plainly seen than in the Book of Common Prayer.

Originally written in 1549 by Thomas Cranmer, the BCP revolutionised the life and worship of the Church. Cranmer’s BCP was a brilliant innovation that brought new life and meaning to the ancient worship traditions of the church, because, for the first time, they were simplified and written in the language of the people rather than in Latin.

The BCP is also thoroughly infused with Scripture references from beginning to end as Cranmer had a deep conviction in the transforming power of God’s written Word.