Anglo-Catholics in Aotearoa

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There have always been Anglicans who have responded most warmly to the Catholic elements of the church’s tradition. In the mid-nineteenth century, there was a welling up in the Church of England of movements that sought to restore to the church an appreciation of its Catholic heritage, and to establish that as a way of being Anglican. This led to the rediscovery of Catholic liturgy, of orderly and heartfelt sacramental worship, of serious biblical and theological scholarship, of personal growth in spiritual disciplines, the renewal of Religious communities, and a desire to serve the poorer and forgotten parts of society. The Tractarian and Oxford Movements eventually changed the face of 19th and 20th Century Anglicanism.

Movements that sought to reinvigorate the Church and put the sacraments back at the heart of worship and practice have shaped the liturgy, worship and practice of the Church, and few Anglicans in Aotearoa have been untouched by the ripples of Anglo-Catholicism.

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In Aotearoa New Zealand, Anglo-Catholic church communities have been a small minority compared to overseas, but Anglo-Catholic influence has been widespread and profound throughout the Church. The Parish of St Michael and All Angels, Ōtautahi Christchurch, where we will gather has been an Anglo-Catholic centre for well over 100 years.

Catholic Tradition is a Living Thing, Rooted in the Revelation Of Jesus Christ and Growing in the Experience of the Church

Affirming Catholicism

We believe that Anglo-Catholicism still has a lot to offer people in contemporary Aotearoa. The Hui provides an opportunity for Anglo-Catholics and those interested in the tradition from across the country to gather together for fellowship and mutual encouragement.