Grande Prairie Anglican Fellowship

Anglicanism is the historic expression of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church as it took root in England and spread throughout the world. Anglicans confess the ancient creeds, uphold Holy Scripture as the final authority in all matters of faith and life, and worship according to a biblical and time-tested liturgy. We subscribe to the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571) as a faithful summary of Reformation doctrine and worship according to the Book of Common Prayer.

Anglicanism upholds the same catholic faith confessed throughout the world that is safeguarded by the ancient creeds and ecumenical councils. It is not a new religion, but a reformed expression of historic Christianity. For those familiar with other Protestant traditions, several features may stand out:

First, episcopal governance. Anglican churches are led by bishops in apostolic succession, reflecting the ancient pattern of church oversight and pastoral accountability.

Second, the liturgical calendar. Our worship and common life follow the rhythm of the Church Year—Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time—so that, year by year, we walk through the life of Christ together.

Third, the Book of Common Prayer. The Prayer Book unites Anglicans across time and place. We pray the same prayers, confess the same faith, read the same Scriptures, and gather around the same pattern of Word and Sacrament.

For those coming from a Roman Catholic background, a few distinctions are important: We recognize the Bishop of Rome as a historic “first among equals,” but we do not affirm universal papal jurisdiction over all churches. Anglicanism has no single earthly head. We affirm the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, but we do not define that presence through the doctrine of transubstantiation.

Anglicanism is part of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, as we confess in the Nicene Creed. In that sense, it is truly catholic—rooted in the ancient faith, shaped by the creeds, and continuous with the historic Church. At the same time, Anglicanism was significantly reformed during the Protestant Reformation. The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571) and the Book of Common Prayer were composed in that period, giving Anglicanism a distinctly reformed character. In that sense, it is Protestant. Anglicanism was reformed in the sixteenth century, but it did not begin there. Many like to describe Anglicanism as a via media ("middle way") between Protestantism and Catholicism.

The World Christian Encyclopedia (3rd ed.) identifies Anglicanism, Roman Catholicism, and Eastern Orthodoxy as three historic branches of Christianity that trace their origins to the first century. An ancient Christian text, On the Seventy Apostles of Christ, names St. Aristobulus—mentioned in Romans 16:10—as “bishop of Britain,” and identifies him as one of the seventy sent out two-by-two by Jesus in Luke 10. Contrary to the common claim that Anglicanism began with King Henry VIII’s divorce, the Church in Britain long predates the English Reformation.

First, start with the primary documents. For our confessional standards, read the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571) and the Jerusalem Declaration (2008). Next, begin worshipping with the 2019 Book of Common Prayer. It is available in a red-cover edition (contemporary language) and a green-cover edition (traditional language). Both contain the same theology and structure and differ only in wording. You can also use the “Daily Office” app or visit dailyoffice2019.com to begin praying Morning and Evening Prayer.

You should also read our official catechism, To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism. Approved by the Anglican Church in North America, it provides a clear and accessible summary of Anglican belief and practice. The Anglican Compass website is helpful for many common questions. Ashley Tumlin Wallace’s website and books are especially useful for learning about the Church calendar and the rhythm of the Christian year.

If you would like a book-length introduction, consider The Anglican Way: A Guidebook if you are coming from a lower-church background (Baptist, Pentecostal, Reformed, or non-denominational). If you come from (or are desiring) a more liturgical church (Lutheran, Roman Catholic, or Orthodox), Deep Anglicanism: A Brief Guide may resonate better.

The group will be led by Jeremy Gardiner. Jeremy is husband to Amanda, a father to five wonderful children, and a proud Albertan. He is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute with a degree in Biblical Studies. He is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Wycliffe College (University of Toronto), concentrating in Anglican Studies, and is also completing a Certificate in Anglican Studies at Reformed Episcopal Seminary. Jeremy will be pursuing ordination in the Anglican Church in North America. Jeremy wrote an influential book on the practice of head covering (1 Cor. 11:2-16) and he produces theology-focused videos on YouTube (@TheologyJeremy).

The ultimate goal of this fellowship group is the establishment of an Anglican church in Grande Prairie that is affiliated with the Anglican Church in North America. To move toward that goal, we have two primary purposes.

First, we want to grow close together as a community. Many of us hope to be part of founding this church plant, so we are intentionally building deep fellowship. We want to encourage one another, support one another, and be formed together as a unified, tight-knit body.

Second, we want to learn the Anglican way together. We will study Anglican history, theology, and worship. This will be a place to ask questions, learn the faith, and become familiar with worship shaped by the Book of Common Prayer.

This is completely dependent on the level of interest shown. The more signups we receive, the sooner we can begin. Ideally, we would like to start in the Fall of 2026.

The initial plan is to meet on a weekday evening that works best for the majority, beginning every other week. When we gather, we will worship together using the Daily Office from the Book of Common Prayer. We will also have a teaching session on Anglican history, theology, or worship, followed by time for questions and discussion. We will also share a meal and enjoy fellowship together. This will be a family-friendly gathering with children welcome.

As a fellowship group, we will not be operating as a church at launch. Therefore, there will be no sermon, and we will not celebrate the Eucharist or administer baptisms. These are sacraments entrusted to duly constituted churches under proper oversight. During this season, all participants should remain active members of a local church.

We will use the 2019 Book of Common Prayer, the official Prayer Book of the Anglican Church in North America. It is available in two editions: contemporary language and traditional language. Both contain the same theology and structure and differ only in wording. For example, the traditional version of the Lord’s Prayer says “thy kingdom come,” while the contemporary version says “your kingdom come.” We are open to using either form, depending on the needs and desires of the congregation.

We will seek to become part of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). The ACNA is part of GAFCON, a global fellowship of Anglican churches committed to historic Christian faith and practice. The confessional statement of GAFCON is the 2008 Jerusalem Declaration.

First, there are many faithful Christians within the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC) who hold to the historic catholic faith. We do not regard them as enemies, but as fellow laborers in Christ. Our concern is not with individuals, but with the institution itself.

The Anglican Church of Canada has compromised the historic faith on marriage, sexuality, and the authority of Scripture. The decisive rupture came with its authorization of same-sex marriage, contrary to Resolution I.10 of the 1998 Lambeth Conference, which affirmed that marriage is between one man and one woman and that homosexual practice is incompatible with Scripture. By proceeding in opposition to that resolution, the ACoC departed from what had been clearly articulated as Anglican doctrine.

This led to the global Anglican Church (GAFCON) disciplining the ACoC, along with several other provinces such as The Episcopal Church, by separating from them and excluding them from fellowship with the global Anglican church. GAFCON represents roughly 85% of the world’s Anglicans.

The ACoC also permits women to serve as bishops, which is constitutionally forbidden in the ACNA. Our church will also uphold the ancient and Scriptural practice of only allowing men to serve as priests. (1 Tim. 2:12-14)

No, we are not yet a church. This fellowship group is best understood as a small group—something that supplements your involvement in a local congregation, not something that replaces it. You should remain an active member of your current church during this season.

We do not view other churches as competition, but as co-laborers in the gospel. We are not seeking to draw people away from faithful congregations where they are growing and well served. At the same time, we recognize that some believers may not be flourishing in their current context. For those who find themselves in that position, we invite you to consider whether the Anglican way might help your spiritual life thrive.