AIMS King Alfred	This site aims to help foster a renewal of traditional, conservative English Christianity rooted in the Anglican tradition. This is not defined just from the establishment of the Church of England, but rather the broader English Christianity that stretches back to the old Anglo Saxon Church or ‘Ecclesia Anglicana’. The aim is not to restore Anglo Saxon Christianity as such, but to draw from it inspiration for a truly English form of Christianity. It is hoped that this will help to strengthen a positive English identity and build strong English communities. The site has no formal links with the Church of England or any other Anglican jurisdiction, but seeks to be a resource and inspiration for traditional English Anglicans wherever they may be.
The CofE, as it is colloquially known, has been the main spiritual home of the English people since the 16^th century; the heart of our communities, culture and identity. Traditional hymns, Church music and customs, the language of the King James Bible and Book of Common Prayer, even just the smell of an old Parish Church, have all helped forge this identity. However, the modern Church of England is re-imaging itself to better reflect current social values and attract the changing demographics of our land. Whilst this may be positive for some, it is making it harder for traditional Anglicans to find a home. It is already difficult to find a Church community that uses the old Prayer Book as the norm and it is likely to become harder to find a Church that has any form of traditional service as time goes on. There is no point simply moaning about this. Traditionally minded people need to become active and create the demand for such services. Whilst rooted in orthodoxy, the CofE is less dogmatic than most other mainstream Churches, something which has provided a degree of flexibility for spiritual growth and engagement with scientific advancement, but which has also encouraged a tendency to ‘move with the times’ and reject much of its old teaching. As a result, it has largely abandoned its traditional liturgy and style of worship; traditional organ music has in many places been replaced by modern style bands, pews by chairs and traditional hymns supplemented or replaced by international music. Furthermore, it seems to preach a different set of values both to what many of its people hold as well as to what it used to teach itself. There is an all-pervading emphasis on a politicised ‘social gospel’ and whatever trendy so called ‘progressive’ issue is flavour of the month at any given time. Christ is portrayed as weak and passive, reflecting modern society’s obsession with victimhood rather than the warrior king of previous generations. Recreating a traditionalist Church culture should not just be about restoring the old hymns and liturgy. It should also be about exploring our ancient Church roots and its traditions. English Christianity has been influenced by both the Irish (Celtic) and Roman Churches as well as by the old Saxon heroic culture of our pre-Christian ancestors. This has given it a distinct identity, one that combines the mysticism and love of nature from the Celtic, the rich ritual of the Roman and an emphasis on personal honour, valour and industriousness from the old heroic culture. This form of Christianity is known as ‘Saxon Christianity’ and formed the basis of English Christianity until quite recently. Today, many peoples around the world are re-discovering their ancestral folk traditions. Whilst the Church has had mixed views on these, and has been hostile to some of them, it also deliberately absorbed many folk traditions and Christianised them. Even some traditions that were initially suppressed, such as well dressing or honouring ancestors, came to be accepted and Christianised in time. Interest in folk traditions, which are often local expressions of a deeper spirituality, is growing and this is something that this site seeks to encourage as a way of maintaining a culturally ‘English’ form of the faith. Church is community. Not just a community of people who happen to attend the same service or believe in a particular finer point of doctrine. Rather a community which is based around being part of a group of people with strong kinship ties to each other in which a sort of ‘Folk Church’, whether as part of or separate to the Church of England, provides the spiritual and cultural ‘glue’. In this way, it is hoped that ASA can help to inspire stronger, more resilient English communities that are confident of their identity and have a secure place within our changing world. None of this will happen on its own. Ultimately, it will be for traditionally minded English people to come together and form such communities and congregations. Whether these are discussion groups, book clubs, associations to celebrate traditional forms of service or particular saints and festivals, it is hoped that this site will help to encourage them Go back to contents