“To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” — Romans 1:7 (BSB)
“To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be saints, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…” — 1 Corinthians 1:2 (BSB)
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles…” — Hebrews 12:1 (BSB)
“After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb… and they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” — Revelation 7:9–10 (BSB)
The Church is a communion of saints because all believers are united in Christ. We are joined together by faith, by baptism, and by the indwelling Spirit. While the saints in heaven worship God face to face, the saints on earth strive toward holiness, encouraged by their example and witness. This unity across time and space is not just spiritual sentiment—it is mystical reality, grounded in our union with Christ, the one Head of the Church.
Article XVII of the Thirty-Nine Articles affirms God’s purpose in calling the saints to “be made like the image of His only-begotten Son,” and Article XXII clarifies that while we honor their memory, we do not invoke the saints as mediators. Saints in heaven point us to Christ, never replace Him.
Bishop J.C. Ryle taught, “Saints are not a special class. They are simply all true believers in Jesus. Every converted man or woman is a saint in God’s eyes” (Holiness, 1877).
Rev. Dr. Joel Scandrett (Trinity School for Ministry) writes, “The saints are those who have been made holy—not by their own works, but by the blood of Christ and the power of the Spirit. Sainthood is not an achievement; it is a vocation shared by all believers” (Anglican Catechism in Depth, 2020).
Archbishop Henry Ndukuba (Primate, Church of Nigeria) affirms, “The saints in glory are our older brothers and sisters in the faith. Their lives are testimonies of God’s power and grace. Their crown reminds us of our call to persevere” (Pastoral Letter, 2022).
Canon Dr. Esau McCaulley (ACNA, Wheaton College) adds, “To call someone a saint is not to exalt them above humanity, but to say they bear witness to what God can do with a surrendered life” (New York Times, 2020).
Bishop Julian Dobbs (Diocese of the Living Word, ACNA) explains, “The communion of saints is not merely a doctrine to recite, but a fellowship we experience. In worship, we join with saints above and saints below in glorifying Christ” (Diocesan Charge, 2021).
This communion is seen most fully in the Eucharist, where we are joined with “angels and archangels and all the company of heaven.” It reminds us that the Church is not bound by time or death. We are one Body, and the saints encourage us by their prayers, their example, and their faithful witness to Christ.
St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130–202 AD): “Where the Spirit is, there is the Church, and where the Church is, there are the saints. For the Church is the field in which God is growing His holy ones.” — Against Heresies, IV.33.7
St. Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200–258 AD): “We are one body and one soul, knit together by love and by the prayers of the saints who have gone before us.” — Epistle 60.5
St. John Chrysostom (c. 349–407 AD): “The saints are not distant from us. Though they are gone from sight, they are present in spirit, rejoicing with us when we worship the Lord.” — Homily on Hebrews 8
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.
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St. Thomas Church is a Church planting movement in ancient tradition.
