Some Anglicans, as well as others, emphasize the "Catholic" aspects of Anglicanism. They can assert certain points to support their claims. These points include Anglican adherence to the ancient creeds, respect for the ancient church fathers and councils, use of liturgical forms, and a sense of historical continuity in the Church. These "catholic" characteristics are generally more evident in the Anglican tradition than in other traditions influenced by the Protestant Reformation.
However, the historical facts indicate that in some important ways, Anglicanism is "Protestant." The principles of the Protestant Reformation permeate the traditional Books of Common Prayer and the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion. The Prayer Books are full of Reformation themes such as Scriptural authority, unmerited grace, and justifying faith. The Articles of Religion are a moderate "Protestant" document, influenced by both Lutheran and Reformed tendencies and confessions.
So Anglicanism really is a unique case. It has kept many basic beliefs and practices from ancient and medieval Catholicism. From a historical viewpoint, it can also be considered a moderate form of "Protestantism." The traditional Prayer Books, the Thirty-nine Articles, and the general Anglican ethos from the sixteenth century onward support observers from a variety of Christian traditions who view Anglicanism as a unique development from the Reformation.
