St Hilda’s Anglican Church is a gospel-proclaiming Anglican church. We embody what some call the three streams of faithful Anglicanism:
-
-
- Evangelical: We confidently trust in the Bible and affirm that we are saved by God’s grace, not by our good deeds.
- Catholic: We continue in the living tradition of classical Christianity, cherishing God’s presence and grace in the sacraments and liturgy.
- Charismatic: We believe that the Holy Spirit works powerfully in the church, in many cases through the granting of spiritual gifts, and that God often communicates to Christians personally.
-
There are some aspects of our church that might be new to some people, even if they have a church background.
Liturgical Worship
Our public worship follows a well-defined plan that directs our attention to God and leads us in offering ourselves to Him. This plan, called the liturgy, traces it roots to the early centuries of the church and has been adjusted by Christians over many centuries. In it, no believer is a spectator; everyone is called to be an active participant, especially through corporate prayer and the sacrament of Holy Communion. Bible-centred preaching is an integral element of our services, but it is one element among several rather than the “main event,” so to speak.
At the moment, some of our church worship is conducted online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this online format the services are less liturgical, but they are nevertheless an opportunity to empty ourselves before God and be filled up by Him.
Weekly Communion
When we meet in person on Sundays, we always have Holy Communion, also called the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist. In this sacrament, all baptized believers are invited to partake of special bread and wine that Jesus called His body and blood. Participation in Holy Communion is an act of worship; as we receive the gift of God and draw near to Him, we offer ourselves to Him.
Spirit-Led Sharing
Because we practice liturgical worship, the majority of our service, aside from the sermon, is read rather than improvised. However, God works both within and outside of the liturgy, so we allow room in our services for worshippers to speak if they want, or feel led by God, to do so.