Lutheran Influences in Anglicanism

Anglicanism in England and around the world has been influenced by many currents over the centuries. These influences include the ancient undivided Church, medieval and Renaissance Catholicism, several strains of Reformation Protestantism, and varied Christian influences over the centuries since the Restoration of 1660.  After years of considering church history, I would maintain that one of the most basic influences on Anglican thought and practice is the Lutheran Reformation. Despite divergent Anglican views about the 16th-17th century reforms, history shows that there are clearly Lutheran influences upon the beliefs and practices of English Christianity.

In the early years of the English Reformation, numerous churchmen and civic leaders were influenced by Luther. Luther's example led to Bible translations by William Tyndale and Miles Coverdale. Lutheran liturgical reforms influenced Thomas Cranmer's revisions. Cranmer's first official English liturgical text was the Litany in 1544. This Litany closely followed Luther's revision of 1529.  Cranmer's later versions of the Anglican Daily Office and the Order for Holy Communion reflected several British and Continental influences, especially Lutheran ones. In addition, many daily and seasonal prayers were revised or rewritten under Reformation themes such as unearned grace and faith. Although the Anglican Articles of  Religion drafted by Thomas Cranmer and revised by Matthew Parker were not fully Lutheran, they were heavily influenced by the Augsburg Confession and other Lutheran confessions. Besides Lutheran influences on Cranmer and other English Reformers, there were Lutheran tendencies in the personal ideas and practices of Elizabeth I and in the religious policies she supported.

Over time, direct Lutheran influence declined in the sixteenth-century English Church, and many Anglicans were influenced by the Reformed more than by Lutherans. Anglicanism was a broad national body and was not strictly Lutheran. Nevertheless, interactions between the two traditions continued, especially during the Hanoverian monarchy. Furthermore, the Lutheran emphasis on Scripture and justification by grace through faith continued among Anglicans. Although Calvinism often had great influence in England, it was not able to eradicate other Anglican perspectives. Many Anglicans, like Lutherans, always combined loyalty to Scriptural authority and justification by faith with continued respect for the ancient Creeds, a strong appreciation of the Sacraments, and support for liturgical worship.

To this day,  orthodox Anglicans place Scriptural authority first, emphasize grace and justification by faith, and view sanctification as a fruit of grace and faith. Although there are other historical factors in Anglicanism, Lutheran influences are ingrained in Anglican doctrine and worship. Whether Anglicans acknowledge or appreciate this Lutheran heritage as well as they should is doubtful, but the Lutheran influence on Anglican doctrine and practice cannot be denied.