Iconography in the Anglican Church

[HandmaidenOfGod]

Is Iconography accepted in the Anglican Church as a whole? I know that the AC has gone through times in its history where it was iconoclastic and white washed all chapels with existing iconography, and other times has allowed it. Where does the church stand today?

I was in an Episcopalian Church on Friday evening for a play, and noticed they had two icons: one of the Pantocrator and one of the Theotokos. Each had a candle in front of it. Is this normal? Are Anglo-Catholics more open to Iconography than low church Anglicans?

I ask not to debate, but rather to learn.

 

[ContraMundum]

I don't think I have ever heard of any present-day Anglican being against icons. I know Anglo-Catholics like them around. Maybe the low church less so but I don't think anyone is "against" them.

The era of Anglican iconclasts is long gone.

 

[Cjwinnit]

Not all anglican churches have them but it's more a case of people thikning they aren't required rather than being rabidly against...

 

[Albion]

I think it's safe to say that true icons--as opposed to images per se--are uncommon in Anglican churches. But I've seen them in a few churches, and I agree that Anglicans are not opposed to them.

The way they use or understand them, OTOH, is different from the Eastern way, I'd have to say. They are not reverenced in the same way, the structural elements (eyes, illumination, etc.) are not seen the same way, and the more mystical concepts (about an icon being a "window" etc. etc.) are not present.

I also agree that Anglo-Catholics/High Churchmen are more likely to favor them than Evangelicals/Low Churchmen who would, however, also take the view that images are not wrong to use. Still, they would generally prefer a simpler and less ornamental worship style.

 

[HandmaidenOfGod]

Thanks for your answers! Much appreciated!

 

[TomUK]

I've found them quite common. In fact thinking of it even the old evangelical church i used to go to have a couple of services centred around an icon.

 

[ContraMundum]

Taize. There's a service around an icon.

 

[Timothy]

Personally can't stand them, but that's after 11 years of living in an EO country where superstition surrounding icons is rife.

 

[NewToLife]

I've seen mixed views on this, there are plenty of CofE churches where icons are accepted and even present ( indeed Archbishop Rowan Williams is a fan and has even written books about prayer with icons ), that said, there are a minority of evangelical churches that do not accept icons.

 

[calluna]

I've seen mixed views on this, there are plenty of CofE churches where icons are accepted and even present ( indeed Archbishop Rowan Williams is a fan and has even written books about prayer with icons ), that said, there are a minority of evangelical churches that do not accept icons.

How can any evangelicals, whose obsession, according to others, is sola fide, accept icons? Can someone give a link to a congregation that calls itself conservative evangelical and uses icons? Do Peter Akinola's people, for instance, use them?

 

[NewToLife]

How can any evangelicals, whose obsession, according to others, is sola fide, accept icons? Can someone give a link to a congregation that calls itself conservative evangelical and uses icons? Do Peter Akinola's people, for instance, use them?

I was simply commenting on my experience of the CofE as an interested outsider. I am in no position to justify why evangelicals within the Anglican church do one thing or another, I was merely reporting what my personal experiences of the CofE has been.

 

[calluna]

I was simply commenting on my experience of the CofE as an interested outsider.

Where have you noticed evangelicals in the CoE, or anywhere else, for that matter, using icons? Time and place, please.

 

[NewToLife]

Where have you noticed evangelicals in the CoE, or anywhere else, for that matter, using icons? Time and place, please.

May I refer you to TomUK's post for your confirmation.

 

[calluna]

I've found them quite common. In fact thinking of it even the old evangelical church i used to go to have a couple of services centred around an icon.

Where was that, please?

 

[calluna]

May I refer you to TomUK's post for your confirmation.

So you haven't actually experienced this yourself.

 

[NewToLife]

So you haven't actually experienced this yourself.

Yes. I have. That said I do not keep a diary of my experiences with either the CofE or Anglicanism as a whole and I did not anticipate a demand for evidence to prove what was intended essentially as a fellowship post.....

I did not post here to generate debate and I regret my comments if that is their result.

 

[calluna]

Yes. I have. That said I do not keep a diary of my experiences

I'm quite sure that I would remember such an occurrence.

I did not anticipate a demand for evidence to prove what was intended essentially as a fellowship post.

The internet is not a fellowship. All sorts of people use it.

 

[karen freeinchristman]

I don't think I have ever heard of any present-day Anglican being against icons. I know Anglo-Catholics like them around. Maybe the low church less so but I don't think anyone is "against" them.

The era of Anglican iconclasts is long gone.

I agree. In fact, I personally know several evangelical Anglicans who in the past considered themselves 'against' icons - after learning more about icons and participating in prayerful meditations with them, these people have come to appreciate them. If not actually turning to the use of icons as a regular practice, they at least have an understanding why others incorporate iconography into their spirituality.

 

[calluna]

I agree. In fact, I personally know several evangelical Anglicans who in the past considered themselves 'against' icons - after learning more about icons and participating in prayerful meditations with them, these people have come to appreciate them.

Were these evangelicals, or people posing as evangelicals?

 

[karen freeinchristman]

Were these evangelicals, or people posing as evangelicals?

Let's see - if you considered these five characteristics as a baseline definition, then yes, they were/are evangelicals:

Biblicism - Through the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, the God who is objectively 'there' has revealed universal and eternal truth to humankind in such a way that all can grasp it.
Christocentrism - God's eternal Word became human in the historical man Jesus of Nazareth, who definitively reveals God to humanity.
Crucicentrism - The good news of God's revelation in Christ is seen supremely in the cross, where atonement was made for people of every race, tribe and tongue.
Conversionism - The truth of the eternal gospel must be appropriated in personal faith, which comes through repentance - that is, a discernible reorientation of the sinner's mind and heart towards God.
Activism - Gospel truth must be demonstrated in evangelism and social service.

From:
http://www.eauk.org/about/what_is.cfm