The Anglican Parish of St Stephen the Martyr is a member of the Diocese of New Westminster, which is part of the Anglican Church of Canada. The Anglican Church of Canada is a member church of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
The Anglican tradition developed in the 16th century, during the Protestant Reformation, when the Church in England broke ties with the authority of Rome and established an independent existence. British colonists brought their Christian practice around the world and to what is now Canada, holding worship on an English ship in Hudson’s Bay in 1578, and eventually establishing churches from sea to sea to sea. Today, the Anglican Church of Canada is an independent, self-governing church in communion with the other 44 churches of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
We are a tradition learning to repent of the damage of our colonial past, rejoice in the diversity of our present, and hope for a future marked with Christ’s love.
The Anglican tradition supports our spiritual life in three ways:
- Through Scripture which for us means the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) and the New Testament.
- Through Tradition which includes all the ways and rituals that have been passed down through the church from generation to generation. Our main sacraments are the Eucharist (Holy Communion) and Baptism. You may also encounter the sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation, Healing/Last Rites, Marriage, and Ordination.
- Through Reason which is our God-given capacity to engage with Scripture and Tradition and connect them to everyday life. We believe that the ways we interact with Scripture and Tradition are dynamic and are sources of perpetual new revelation for us.