WHY BAPTIZE INFANTS IN THE WORLDWIDE ANGLICAN CHURCH? In the Worldwide Anglican Church, infants are baptized because baptism is understood as God’s covenant grace given to the child and the Church community, not just a personal decision. Worldwide Anglican Church teaching is rooted in Scripture, early Church tradition, and the theology of covenant. Here are the main reasons: 1. Baptism Initiates a Child Into the Christian Covenant Anglicans believe baptism brings a person into the family of God (the Church). Just as children were included in God’s covenant in the Old Testament through circumcision, children are now included through baptism. Example: Acts 2:38–39 says “The promise is for you and for your children.” 2. Biblical Examples of Household Baptisms The New Testament records several households being baptized, which likely included children. Examples: Acts 16:15 – Lydia and her household Acts 16:33 – The jailer and his household These passages support the practice of baptizing entire families. 3. Baptism Is a Means of Grace Anglicans believe baptism is a sacrament—a visible sign of God’s grace. The grace of God is not limited by age, so infants can receive it. 4. Parents and Godparents Promise Christian Upbringing Since infants cannot speak for themselves, parents and godparents make promises to: Raise the child in the Christian faith Teach them the Gospel Bring them to Church Later, the child confirms these promises during Confirmation. 5. The Practice of the Early Church The early Christian Church baptized infants for centuries. Anglicanism, which values historic Christian tradition, continues this practice. 6. Jesus Welcomed Children Anglicans also point to Christ’s words: Mark 10:14 – “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” In summary: Infant baptism in the Worldwide Anglican Churches shows that God’s grace comes first, and the Church community commits to raising the child in faith until they personally confirm it later. THANKS. [Worldwide] Anglican Church 2026

March 21 Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. - Reformation Martyr Archbishop Thomas Cranmer was burnt at the stake during the reign of Bloody Mary on 21st March 1556 at the age of 66. Thomas Cranmer edited "The Book of Common Prayer" which has had a tremendous influence on the English language and on liturgical worship for over 400 years. Thomas Cranmer was born on July 2, 1489, at Aslockton, Nottinghamshire, England, 131 miles northwest of London, to parents of modest wealth. He attended Jesus College, Cambridge and received his bachelor and master’s degrees from in logic, classical literature and philosophy. From there, he studied theology, earned ordination by 1520 and obtained a Doctor of Divinity degree by 1526. His wife Joan, died in childbirth; and he married his second wife Margarete and blessed with two children Margaret and Thomas. Around this same time, The King of England, Henry VIII, wanted to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, who had failed to produce a male heir for the throne. Henry sent ambassadors to the Pope regarding the annulment, but the Pope failed to grant it. Soon after, Henry broke away from the Catholic Church and declared himself the head of the Church of England. Henry’s marriage to Anne Boleyn, who had read the works of many Reformers, led to the appointment of Thomas Cranmer as the Archbishop of Canterbury. The church consecrated Cranmer as the archbishop on March 30, 1533. Henry’s motivations for separating from the Catholic Church were political, but Cranmer’s were more theological. Cranmer had met Reformers on the Continent and corresponded with them. As Cranmer became more convinced of Reformed theology, he organized work on a statement of faith that became the Thirty-Nine Articles, a document edited over 30 years that defined the theology of the Church of England in the 16th century. Cranmer also edited the Book of Common Prayer, which contained words for liturgical worship services (such as for baptisms, Communion, morning prayer, etc.), prayers for pastoral care, daily Bible readings, and later, the Thirty-Nine Articles. The Book of Common Prayer has had a tremendous influence on the English language and on liturgical worship for over 400 years. When Henry VIII died Edward VI became king in 1547 when he was just nine years old. Edward was raised Protestant, so the Church of England under Cranmer’s leadership flourished. When Edward died at age 15 in 1553, Henry VIII’s oldest child, Mary, became Queen, and she aggressively reinstated Roman Catholicism until her death in 1558. She accused the Archbishop Thomas Cranmer of heresy for his Protestant views. During the next few months he was subjected to continual pressure to abjure his theological opinions, and at length he was prevailed upon to sign a document acknowledging the Pope’s supreme authority. After two years in prison, and under great pressure from the authorities, and the promise of his former greatness if he would but recant, as well as the queen’s favor, even though they knew that his death was determined in council. To soften the path to apostasy, the first paper brought for his signature was conceived in general terms; this once signed, five others were obtained as explanatory of the first, until finally he put his hand to the following detestable instrument: I, Thomas Cranmer, late archbishop of Canterbury, do renounce, abhor, and detest all manner of heresies and errors of Luther and Zwingli, and all other teachings which are contrary to sound and true doctrine. And I believe most constantly in my heart, and with my mouth I confess one holy and Catholic Church visible, without which there is no salvation; and therefore I acknowledge the Bishop of Rome to be supreme head on earth, whom I acknowledge to be the highest bishop and pope, and Christ’s vicar, unto whom all Christian people ought to be subject. And as concerning the sacraments, I believe and worship in the sacrament of the altar the body and blood of Christ, being contained most truly under the forms of bread and wine; the bread, through the mighty power of God being turned into the body of our Savior Jesus Christ, and the wine into his blood. And in the other six sacraments, also, (alike as in this) I believe and hold as the universal Church holds, and the Church of Rome judges and determines. Furthermore, I believe that there is a place of purgatory, where souls departed be punished for a time, for whom the Church doth godly and wholesomely pray, like as it doth honor saints and make prayers to them. Finally, in all things I profess, that I do not otherwise believe than the Catholic Church and the Church of Rome holds and teaches. I am sorry that I ever held or thought otherwise. And I beseech Almighty God, that of His mercy He will vouchsafe to forgive me whatsoever I have offended against God or His Church, and also I desire and beseech all Christian people to pray for me. And all such as have been deceived either by mine example or doctrine, I require them by the blood of Jesus Christ that they will return to the unity of the Church, that we may be all of one mind, without schism or division.” The papists forced his full acceptance of the doctrines of purgatory and transubstantiation, and abjured all the beliefs he had formerly professed of a Lutheran or Zwinglian nature. His recantation was immediately printed and dispersed, only to discredit him in the public regard. However, the Queen refused any mercy saying Cranmer’s “iniquity and obstinacy was so great against God,” that “clemency and mercy could have no place with him." Imprisoned for almost three years, Cranmer awaited the verdict from Rome, since the trial was under the Pope’s jurisdiction. The Pope stripped Cranmer of his archbishopric and approved the death sentence. On March 21st he was brought once more to St. Mary’s Church where a platform had been set up for him in front of the pulpit. It was the day before Passion Sunday. A silent throng filled the nave and side aisles as the Provost of Eton climbed the pulpit steps to address them. He explained why Cranmer must die. Notwithstanding his acceptance of the full Romanist faith, and in spite of the fact that four Reforming bishops had already been burnt, Bishop Fisher was still insufficiently avenged. Only the death of the Archbishop could completely balance the account. The expectant congregation, the triumphant tribunal, waited for the solemn denunciation of his erstwhile Reforming opinions which must surely follow. What in fact came next electrified and confounded them. During the sermon Cranmer wept bitter tears: lifting up his hands and eyes to heaven, and letting them fall, as if unworthy to live: his grief now found vent in words: before his confession he fell upon his knees, and, in [prayer to God] unveiled the deep contrition and agitation which harrowed up his soul.... Then rising, he said he was desirous before his death to give them some pious exhortations by which God might be glorified and themselves edified. He then descanted upon the danger of a love for the world, the duty of obedience to their majesties, of love to one another and the necessity of the rich administering to the wants of the poor. He quoted the three verses of the fifth chapter of James, and then proceeded, Let them that be rich ponder well these three sentences: for if they ever had occasion to show their charity, they have it now at this present, the poor people being so many, and victual so dear. And now forasmuch as I am come to the last end of my life, whereupon hangs all my life past, and all my life to come, either to live with my master Christ for ever in joy, or else to be in pain for ever with the wicked in hell, and I see before mine eyes presently, either heaven ready to receive me, or else hell ready to swallow me up; I shall therefore declare unto you my very faith how I believe, without any color of dissimulation: for now is no time to dissemble, whatsoever I have said or written in times past. First, I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, etc. And I believe every article of the Catholic [i.e. worldwide] faith, every word and sentence taught by our Savior Jesus Christ, His apostles and prophets, in the New and Old Testament. And now I come to the great thing which so much troubles my conscience, “I renounce and refuse, as things written with my hand, contrary to the truth which I thought in my heart, and written for fear of death and to save my life, all bills and papers which I have written or signed with my own hand since my degradation. And forasmuch as my hand offended, writing contrary to my heart, my hand shall first be punished therefore; for when I come to the fire it shall first be burned.” Cranmer regretted his decision and recanted his recant. And as for the pope, I refuse him as Christ’s enemy, and Antichrist, with all his false doctrine. Upon the conclusion of this unexpected declaration, amazement and indignation were conspicuous in every part of the church. The Catholics were completely foiled, their object being frustrated, Cranmer, like Samson, having completed a greater ruin upon his enemies in the hour of death, than he did in his life. He attempted to say more, to denounce the pretensions of the Pope, to re-assert his former denial of transubstantiation. But his outraged judges would allow him to speak no further. He was dragged from the platform and from St. Mary’s Church, to the spot near Balliol College where, only a few months before, he had seen Latimer and Ridley put to death. Here, before a vast concourse, he knelt in prayer and, after shaking hands with some of the bystanders, prepared himself for the stake. Then, in the words of an eye-witness, “when the wood was kindled and the fire began to burn, he put his right hand into the flame saying ‘ This hand hath offended.’” He was tied to the stake, the flaming faggots were piled around him, and “as soon as the fire got up he was very soon dead, never stirring or crying all the while.” The anonymous witness said Cranmer died with patience and courage. His eyes were lifted up to heaven, and he repeated “This unworthy right hand,” as long as his voice would suffer him; and using often the words of Stephen, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,” in the greatness of the flame, he gave up his spirit. Thus Thomas Cranmer was burned at the stake at Oxford on March 21, 1556. He was a man who changed the course of history in England forever. Thomas Cranmer was essentially a good man; irreproachable in his private life, devout and sincere in his religion, gentle and tolerant towards his fellow-men. He alone had interceded on behalf of Fisher, More and Cromwell, had pleaded for the monks of Sion, and had vainly opposed the rapacious Northumberland in his more outrageous plans of pillage and spoliation. And if at times he stretched his conscience almost to breaking-point in his desire to please and serve his King, it should ever be remembered to his credit that ultimately conscience triumphed over all. In theology he genuinely sought to return to a purer and more primitive faith, essentially orthodox yet purged of what he considered to be medieval accretions and abuses. He played no small part in laying the foundations of an Anglican theology and a doctrinal via media— foundations upon which Parker, Jewel, Hooker and the Caroline divines were afterwards able so notably to build. Of the seventy Collects in the 1552 Book of Common Prayer, Cranmer himself wrote about twenty-four, which are rightly described as 'remarkable pieces of devotion.' Here is the Collect to be prayed on the second Sunday in Advent. Blessed Lord, which hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; grant us that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them; that by patience, and comfort of thy holy word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. On the importance of the word of God he wrote: "Dost thou not mark and consider how the smith, mason, or carpenter or any other handy-craftsman, what need soever he be in ... he will not sell nor lay to pledge the tools of his occupation ... for then how should he get a living thereby? Of like mind and affection ought we to be towards holy scripture. For as mallets, hammers, saws, chisels, axes and hatchets be the tools of their occupation, so be the books of the prophets and apostles, and all holy writ inspired by the Holy Ghost the instrument of our salvation" This explains Cranmer's efforts for much of his time as Archbishop of Canterbury to get the English Bible into the hands of the common person in England. As J. I. Packer rightly points out in this regard: 'To make the Church of England a Bible-reading, Bible-loving church was Cranmer's constant ideal.' The declaration that Christ's death is 'a full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction' for sin undercuts the entire theological edifice of medieval Roman Catholicism. He wrote "Almighty God our heavenly Father, which of thy tender mercy didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ, to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption, who made there (by his one oblation of himself once offered) a full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world, and did institute, and in his holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that his precious death, until his coming again; hear us O merciful Father we beseech thee..." Yet it was not in the field of dogmatics that Cranmer achieved his supreme distinction. His priceless legacy to posterity is the Book of Common Prayer. It has justifiably been said that as a compiler of prayers in our flexible English tongue Cranmer stands in a class by himself, as surely as Shakespeare stands alone as a poet. Many have achieved a lasting fame on less worthy and enduring merits. 'Few men,' Kenneth Brownell writes, 'did more to shape English Protestant spirituality and to drive into the soul of a nation the fundamentals of Protestant Christianity.' Within two years of Thomas Cranmer's martyrdom, Elizabeth I ascended the English throne and moved the church back in a Protestant direction, revising Cranmer's 42 Articles to 39, and adopting his Book of Common Prayer as the guide to worship. Today Anglicanism is the expression of faith for 51 million worldwide. 500 years ago Archbishop Thomas Cranmer was martyred for his Book of Common Prayer, after witnessing everything he had done in England be undone. He likely died believing he was a failure. Today, the entire world witnessed an event containing liturgy directly based on his words, from a prayerbook tradition he created. God is good. Soli Deo Gloria Coram Deo https://www.historytoday.com/archive/thomas-cranmer-1489-1556-archbishop-canterbury https://www.olivetree.com/blog/bio-thomas-cranmer/ https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/martyrs/thomas-cranmer.html https://www.worldhistory.org/Thomas_Cranmer/ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Cranmer https://www.christianstudylibrary.org/article/setter-forth-christ%E2%80%99s-glory%E2%80%99-remembering-life-and-martyrdom-thomas-cranmer https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/study/module/cranmer

Beyond Canterbury: The Fight for the Soul of Global Anglicanism Visit LINK 👇 Read more https://substack.com/[televangelisthbmorgan]/note/p-191225645?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=1sttgp Compiled By: Televangelist HB Morgan Digital Library Publications

SCHISM In Abuja (Nigeria), a de facto schism within #Anglicanism is unfolding: hundreds of bishops are distancing themselves from progressive Canterbury. 🔴 CONTINUE READING 👇 https://www.uccronline.it/eng/2026/03/09/schism-among-anglicans-archbishop-of-canterbury-rejected/

La St. Barnabas Society, con un gesto ecumenicamente scorretto, pubblica i dati del clero anglicano che, nel corso degli ultimi 30 anni, è passato dall’anglicanesimo alla chiesa cattolica romana. Leggendo i dati con calma e cognizione di causa, tuttavia, emerge altro, e cioè che l’emorragia da Canterbury a Roma si è ormai conclusa nel lontano 2011; il che significa che oggi il dissenso anglicano di stampo conservatore non si orienta più verso il cattolicesimo romano, ma trova sponda nella Gafcon, ed in altre realtà tradizionali che orbitano esclusivamente nel campo vasto della diaspora anglicana. The St. Barnabas Society, in an ecumenically incorrect move, publishes data on the Anglican clergy who, over the past 30 years, have converted from Anglicanism to the Roman Catholic Church. A careful and informed reading of the data, however, reveals something else: namely, that the hemorrhage from Canterbury to Rome ended way back in 2011. This means that today, conservative Anglican dissent is no longer oriented toward Roman Catholicism, but finds support in Gafcon and other traditional groups that orbit exclusively within the broader Anglican diaspora.