FAQs

Anglicans make up the third largest body of Christians in the world, and its largest Protestant denomination. It involves over 85 million people on six continents across 165 countries. The largest Anglican Province (more about provinces later!) is Nigeria, containing some twenty million Anglican Christians. The Global South (i.e., Africa, parts of Asia, and the Southern Cone of South America) makes up 70% of the Anglican Communion. As the third largest body of Christians, after Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians, Anglicans continue to establish churches and start new congregations all over the world. You can find out more about the history of Anglicanism in the Czech Republic here. Did this answer your FAQs question? If not please write to us at stclementsprague@gmail.com.

The Anglican Church is catholic, but not Roman Catholic. It is Protestant but retains many similarities to the Catholic Church. In practice the word “catholic” means that we claim our historical continuity from the ancient undivided Church; we are orthodox, but not Eastern Orthodox. In this case orthodox means that we stand by the founding principles and doctrines of the church which are rooted in Scripture. The three ancient streams, Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and Anglicans, all share the roots of the first millennial Church. Our doctrinal distinctives from Rome are expressed in the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion in our Book of Common Prayer which you can read here. We are therefore best described as Reformed Catholics, with holy scripture as our primary source of authority. Tradition and reason then follow that primacy of holy scripture. Did this answer your FAQs question? If not please write to us at stclementsprague@gmail.com.

When King Henry VIII of England broke with Papal authority in Rome in 1534 via his Act of Supremacy, he did little more than declare himself head of the English Catholic Church instead of the Pope in Rome, renaming it the Church of England. He remained very Catholic, so little changed in his lifetime apart from his assumption of control. After Henry’s death in 1547 under the Archbishop of Canterbury at the time, Thomas Cranmer, the Church of England began to incorporate more and more ideas from the ongoing Protestant Reformation, and the Book of Common Prayer, first published in 1549, brought about a fundamental change in the liturgy and theology of the Church of England. From then on the Church of England (with brief breaks under the Catholic monarchs Mary and James II) was Protestant in nature, whilst retaining many similarities to Catholicism that perdure to this day: both churches view the sacraments (Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, Ordination, Confession, Marriage and Anointing of the sick) in the same way, as a means of grace, sanctification and forgiveness for believers (although they differ in the importance they ascribe to each). They both maintain the calendar of the saints, with special prayer and readings for each feast, their liturgies are almost the same, their priestly vestments are almost identical, and some Anglican churches say the rosary and have an extensive Marian theology (or “Mariology“), with Marian side altars and chapels a common sight. These are just some of the similarities. Did this answer your FAQs question? If not please write to us at stclementsprague@gmail.com.

The terms “High” and “Low” are rarely used nowadays in Anglicanism but refer to different “parties” or schools of churchmanship within the Church of England/Anglican Communion. “High” Church is the older of the two terms historically and was first applied, in the late seventeenth century, to those individuals who were opposed to the minimalist Puritan wing of the Church of England. Later, and more famously, in the nineteenth century, it was applied to the Anglo-Catholic or Tractarian movement in England from 1833 onwards. The best known members of the High Church/Anglo-Catholic Movement were John Henry Newman, who eventually converted to the Roman Catholic Church, and John Keble, who remained in the Church of England (Keble College Oxford is named after him). High Churchmen placed great emphasis on liturgy and the sacraments, especially the weekly or daily celebration of the Eucharist. Their use of vestments and incense, along with their frequent devotion to Mary and high regard for the Roman Catholic Church, were often regarded with concern and even hostility from within other, more Protestant parts of the Anglican tradition. High Church enthusiasts also placed great emphasis on the three orders of ministry (deacon, priest and bishop) and the importance of apostolic succession and the historical continuity of Anglican bishops with the early church. The “Low Church” movement can trace its roots back to the early eighteenth century but is primarily associated with opposition to the “High Church” or Anglo-Catholic Movement of the later nineteenth century. The “Low” Church or Evangelical party placed great emphasis on preaching, personal piety and the authority of scripture. Evangelicals also gave much less importance to the orders of priesthood and episcopacy. Did this answer your FAQs question? If not please write to us at stclementsprague@gmail.com.

Our basic doctrinal beliefs are stated within the Thirty-Nine Articles in the Book of Common Prayer which you can read here. We affirm the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed as universally accepted statements on the Holy Trinity, the Church, and the final coming of Christ and his eternal Kingdom. Did this answer your FAQs question? If not please write to us at stclementsprague@gmail.com.

Between the two movements of the liturgy, Word and Table, we take a moment to greet one another, saying, “The peace of the Lord be with you.” This is in line with the apostolic imperative given by Saints Paul and Peter: “Greet one another with a holy kiss” (Romans 16:16;), and “Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ” (1 Peter 5:14). In short, these greetings embody the fact that we belong to one another. Our common bond is Jesus. Did this answer your FAQs question? If not please write to us at stclementsprague@gmail.com.

There is Confession in the Anglican Church, but not in the same way as in a Roman Catholic Church. Anglicans are not required to confess their sins to any one Priest at any time in order to be in good standing in the Church. Some High Church (also known as Anglo-Catholic) congregations do, however, practice this, and this is a testament to the breadth of differing interpretations that can be and are accommodated in the Anglican Communion. Traditionally, however, Anglicans practice a so-called General Confession, where the entire congregation confesses together, and General Absolution, where the Priest absolves all of the congregation who have truly repented. Did this answer your FAQs question? If not please write to us at stclementsprague@gmail.com.

Transubstantiation is the belief/teaching that the bread and wine used in Communion actually change substantively into flesh and blood. This is a central part of Roman Catholic theology, where it is believed that God replaces the substance or reality of the bread and wine with the flesh and blood of Christ, and that in this replacement the priest offers Christ back to God and to the people as a sacrifice. The Protestant Reformation opposed this belief, rejecting the idea that the bread and wine were substantively flesh and blood. So, the Anglican solution is to affirm that the bread and wine are his body and blood in a spiritual manner, and then to qualify that, although the meal is heavenly or spiritual, it is nonetheless a true partaking of the body and blood of Christ. The believer is thus encouraged to approach the table in this faith, that Christ is giving himself to his people through this bread and wine. The Holy Spirit makes this possible, making Christ present in the bread and wine, thus making this meal a true participation in Christ. Did this answer your FAQs question? If not please write to us at stclementsprague@gmail.com.

Of course you can. Get to know us, get to know Christianity and get to know Anglicanism. When the time is right you can talk to our Chaplain about getting Baptised, all at your own speed. There is no age limit to Baptism – remember, some of the greatest Christians, the Apostles, came to Christianity as fully-grown adults and yet went on to carry out great works. Did this answer your FAQs question? If not please write to us at stclementsprague@gmail.com.

Many people who find their way to us are not raised as Anglicans, or indeed in any other liturgical tradition. After all, we live in the Czech Republic, where 75% of the population are either non-religious or professed atheists! We understand how awkward and mechanical it can feel for the first month or so of attending liturgical worship, but we also know how second nature it becomes as one takes time to prayerfully absorb the stages of the liturgy. The goal of liturgy is to let it become a part of one’s inner life. Then, one can fully worship in spirit and in truth, together with all the saints! To make the liturgy more accessible, we print Orders of Service that guide us all through worship throughout the year. They alert us to stand, sit, or kneel and how to respond and participate in the service, with additional guidance by the Chaplain (we have recently translated our Orders of Service into Ukrainian for the benefit of the Ukrainian members of the congregation). The texts of the hymns we sing are contained in hymn books we hand out at the beginning of each service, together with the Order to Service mentioned above and a so-called Bulletin or Pew Sheet (printed for each Sunday) which includes the texts of the readings for that particular day, the hymns and other useful information. It is also totally okay, as the church worships, to just sit and take it all in, without saying anything. Just sit and open up your heart to the Lord. Jesus is among us, and he desires to come into your life! Did this answer your FAQs question? If not please write to us at stclementsprague@gmail.com.

St. Clement’s is a church that is supported financially exclusively by its congregation and receives no state or other funding like a Church in the UK would. With running costs of more than 25,000 CZK per week, including church rental, Chaplain’s salary and accommodation etc., we do ask our parishioners to contribute whatever they can to St. Clement’s in order to allow us to carry out our ministry here in Prague and the Czech Republic. The tradition of giving money to the church goes all the way back to the Bible, where giving to the church was encouraged by St. Paul himself in his 2nd Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 9, verse 7: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver”. The amount, however, is totally up to you and if you cannot contribute any particular week, then that’s fine, too. Did this answer your FAQs question? If not please write to us at stclementsprague@gmail.com.

The law currently prevents ministers of the Church of England from carrying out same-sex marriages. And although there are no authorised services for blessing a same-sex civil marriage, as your local church we can still welcome you in our congregation and support you with prayer. At St. Clements we are an open and accepting church and community, finding tolerance to be central to our faith. You can find out more about the Church of England’s relationship with LGBTQI+ faithful here. You can also watch a video on the Church of England’s project on identity, relationships, marriage and sexuality, “Living in Love and Faith” here. Did this answer your FAQs question? If not please write to us at stclementsprague@gmail.com.

We have Children’s Ministry, supervised by two fully vetted and cleared adults, for children of all ages during our Sunday Sung Eucharist services. In it children discover scripture and religion in a fun and entertaining way. Families start the Sung Eucharist by worshipping together, then children are released and accompanied to their Children’s Ministry across the street at Klimentská 18 during the sermon, prayers and creed. The Children then return to the Church to continue to worship with their families during Holy Communion. You can find out more about Children’s Ministry here. Did this answer your FAQs question? If not please write to us at stclementsprague@gmail.com.

Our communion table is open to all who have been baptised in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We ask that those receiving Communion are in process of living a baptised life in Christ, and are in a relationship with the Lord and his Church. Did this answer your FAQs question? If not please write to us at stclementsprague@gmail.com.

People wear a variety of clothing, from formal to casual. Come in whatever makes you feel closest to God and able to communicate with him. Don’t let what anyone else is wearing influence you in that regard. Did this answer your FAQs question? If not please write to us at stclementsprague@gmail.com.

Well, apart from this website you can also follow us on social media at Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Did this answer your FAQs question? If not please write to us at stclementsprague@gmail.com.

To formally become a member of St. Clement’s you need to be on the Church Electoral Roll, a list of all those entitled to participate in the Annual Church Meeting held in the Spring of each year (between the 1st January and the 31st May), where decisions are made regarding the activities and plans to he church. You can apply to be put on the Church Electoral Roll immediately if you are a baptised member of the Anglican/Episcopalian/Old Catholic Churches. If you are a baptised member of another Christian Church which believes in the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, and have ‘habitually worshipped’ at St. Clement’s for at least the last six months, then you too are eligible to apply. Forms to do so are in a folder attached to the noticeboard at the back of the Church, beside the current Church Electoral Roll, or are available for download here. Did this answer your FAQs question? If not please write to us at stclementsprague@gmail.com.

The Church Council is a group of people within St. Clement’s, almost like an executive committee, and it decides on many aspects of St. Clement’s’ functioning as a congregation. You can find out more about the Church Council here. It is made up of the Chaplain (representing the Clergy), the Church Wardens, and other representatives of the laity (non-ordained members of the congregation). The Church Council meets monthly and decides on a number of matters, from proposed events sponsored by or in aid of St. Clement’s to ecclesiastical issues that require its assent. Minutes are taken of each meeting and any votes held, and records kept. Any person who is on the Church Electoral Roll can put themselves forward for election to the Council at the Annual Church Meeting (or ACM), which must take place between the 1st of January and the 31st of May every year and is announced at least two weeks prior to it being held. Anyone putting themselves forward needs a proposer and a seconder who are also members of the Church Electoral Roll. A vote on their membership is then taken at the ACM. Did this answer your FAQs question? If not please write to us at stclementsprague@gmail.com.

A Church Warden (from the French Gardien or guard/caretaker) is the senior lay official in a parish and is an ex officio member of the Church Council (i.e., they are a member by virtue of their position). They represent the laity (as opposed to the Clergy) on the Council and have a responsibility to act as an example to the laity. They also have legal duties such as being responsible for the chattels (or movable property) of the church. They lock and unlock the church after and before services and in England even have powers to arrest people for “riotous” behaviour! They are elected annually at the ACM and can serve for a maximum of six years consecutively, but must then take a two year break before being re-elected. The current Church Wardens for 2022-2023 are Robert Anderson and Stephen Weeks. Did this answer your FAQs question? If not please write to us at stclementsprague@gmail.com.

No, we do not own our church building, but it is placed at our disposal in return for an hourly rent by the main Czech Protestant Church, the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren, who are the owners. You can find out more about them here. Did this answer your FAQs question? If not please write to us at stclementsprague@gmail.com.

The Old Catholic Church in the Czech Republic (or Starokatolická církev v ČR in Czech) is a Czech Church that is a constituent member of the Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches. It is also in Communion with the Anglican Church (and has been since 1932), and it is our sponsor in the Czech Republic. As such St. Clement’s is legally, according to Czech law, the English speaking parish of the Old Catholic Church in the Czech Republic. You can find out more about them here. Did this answer your FAQs question? If not please write to us at stclementsprague@gmail.com.

If you would like to contact the Chaplain directly (on a spiritual matter, for example) please contact him on chaplain@anglican.cz. If you would like to contact us on non-spiritual matters, please either use stclementsprague@gmail.com or use the contact form on this website.