“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” — Matthew 16:18 (BSB)
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” — 1 Peter 2:9 (BSB)
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” — Acts 2:42 (BSB)
“For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also is Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.” — 1 Corinthians 12:12–13 (BSB)
The Nicene Creed calls the Church “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic”: One: united in Christ through one faith and baptism. Holy: set apart and sanctified by the Spirit. Catholic: universal, for all peoples and all times. Apostolic: founded on the teaching of the apostles and guided by their witness.
Article XIX of the Thirty-Nine Articles defines the Church as: “A congregation of faithful men, in which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments be duly ministered…”
The Church is not perfect, but she is Christ’s bride—being made ready for His return (Ephesians 5:27). She is the place where God’s people hear His Word, receive His grace, grow in fellowship, and are sent out in mission. The local church reflects the universal Church and is central to the life of every believer.
Bishop J.C. Ryle wrote: “The Church is not a building of stone and wood, but of living souls. It is built upon the foundation of Christ, and nothing shall overthrow it.”
Rev. Dr. Gerald Bray (Anglican theologian, Church of England) writes: “The Church is not optional—it is the context in which Christians are nourished, equipped, and sent. To belong to Christ is to belong to His Church.”
Canon Dr. John Yates III (ACNA) teaches: “The Church is where Christ’s life is shared, His Word proclaimed, and His Spirit encountered. She is flawed, yet beloved—both local and global, visible and invisible.”
Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit (Kenya) emphasizes: “The Church is the light of Christ in the world, the community of hope in a broken world. In her worship and witness, Christ is made known.”
Thus, the Church is both a spiritual reality and a visible fellowship, a divine calling and a human responsibility. It is the family of God on earth, entrusted with the Gospel, shaped by Scripture and sacrament, and destined for glory.
St. Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200–258 AD): “He cannot have God for his Father who does not have the Church for his mother.” — On the Unity of the Church, 6
St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD): “The Church is the body of Christ, enlivened by the Holy Spirit. Her unity is grounded in love, her mission is the glory of God.” — On the Psalms, 103
St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313–386 AD): “The Church is called catholic because it is spread throughout the whole world, teaches the fullness of faith, and offers salvation to all.” — Catechetical Lectures, 18.23
An Anglican Catechism (Expanded) offers over 350+ Scripture-based answers to the core truths of the Christian faith. Each entry includes biblical texts, theological insight, and reflections from historic and contemporary Anglican voices. Rooted in the classical tradition, it is designed for teaching, discipleship, and spiritual formation.
An Ancient Worship Movement invites readers into the rich, historic worship of the early Church rediscovered through the Anglican tradition. This book calls believers into a deeper, Spirit-filled encounter with Christ through timeless practices.
St. Thomas Church
PO Box 873
Abbotsford, BC,
V2T 7A2, Canada
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St. Thomas Church is a Church planting movement in ancient tradition.
