“Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.” — Ephesians 2:19–20 (BSB)
“But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God… to the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect…” — Hebrews 12:22–23 (BSB)
“So in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.” — Romans 12:5 (BSB)
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel…” — Philippians 1:3–5 (BSB)
Through baptism, I was brought into this fellowship, and through faith, I live in it day by day. When I gather with the Church for worship, prayer, and the Eucharist, I am participating in a reality that includes not only my local congregation but also the whole people of God, both visible and invisible. The communion of saints is especially evident in the liturgy, where we “join our voices with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven” to praise God. It is also visible in the shared mission of the Church, the intercessions we offer for one another, and the encouragement we receive from those who have gone before us in faith.
Article XVII of the Thirty-Nine Articles affirms that God has called the saints “according to His purpose” and “by His Spirit working in due season.” This calling includes not only individual salvation but incorporation into the communion of saints—a shared life of worship, sanctification, and glory.
Bishop J.C. Ryle wrote, “All true believers are saints, and all saints are united. Their communion is invisible yet real, spiritual yet unbreakable. They are one family in Christ Jesus” (Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, 1865).
Rev. Dr. Joel Scandrett (Trinity School for Ministry) teaches, “The communion of saints is not sentimental—it is sacramental and spiritual. We are united by the Spirit in Christ’s Body, which transcends time, death, and division” (Anglican Catechism in Depth, 2020).
Archbishop Laurent Mbanda (Primate of Rwanda) explains, “When we worship, we are never alone. We stand in a great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us. Their faith strengthens our own, and our prayers echo theirs” (Rwandan Church Synod Address, 2022).
Canon Dr. John Yates III (ACNA, Falls Church Anglican) writes, “The communion of saints is the Church at its most beautiful: all believers in union with Christ and each other, loving one another across generations, continents, and even through death” (Catechesis Forum, 2021).
Bishop Julian Dobbs (Diocese of the Living Word, ACNA) states, “We belong to a people, not just a local church but a communion across time and space, joined in Christ’s mission and waiting together for His return” (Diocesan Address, 2020).
To live in the communion of saints is to walk in fellowship, holiness, encouragement, and shared purpose, knowing that I am not alone but surrounded by a multitude—past and present—who are also joined to Christ.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313–386 AD): “While we pray, we make mention of all those who have fallen asleep before us, for we are all one body. Our prayers help them, and theirs help us.” — Catechetical Lectures, 23.9
St. Gregory of Nyssa (c. 335–395 AD): “The Church is one, made up of those on earth and those in heaven, bound together by love and grace, sharing in one and the same divine life.” — On the Soul and the Resurrection
St. John Chrysostom (c. 349–407 AD): “We are in communion with the saints not only by remembering them but by being joined to them in the one Body of Christ.” — Homily on Hebrews 1
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
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V2T 7A2, Canada
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St. Thomas Church is a Church planting movement in ancient tradition.
