At a celebration of Holy Communion, the Apostles' Creed or the Athanasian Creed in an authorized form may be used in place of the Nicene Creed, or an authorized Affirmation of Faith may be used. Suitable words of introduction or conclusion (such as 'Let us declare our faith in God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit') to the Creed or Affirmation of Faith may be used.
The Nicene Creed
All We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the
dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and
glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
The Nicene Creed may be used responsively as follows
We believe in one God,
the Father, the almighty,
Allmaker of heaven and
earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
AllGod from God, Light
from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
AllThrough him all things
were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from
heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
AllFor our sake he was
crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
Allhe ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the
dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
Allthe Lord, the giver
of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
AllWith the Father and
the Son he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.
AllWe believe in one holy,
catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of
sins.
AllWe look for the resurrection
of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The text of the Nicene Creed which omits the phrase 'and the Son' in the third paragraph may be used on suitable ecumenical occasions. See Common Worship, page 140.
The other authorized texts of the Nicene Creed are printed in the Order for the Celebration of Holy Communion - Order One (Traditional Language) and Order Two (Common Worship, pages 213 and 234).
The Apostles' Creed
The origin of the Apostles' Creed is the profession of faith made at baptism. This association may have implications for the occasion when it is used at Holy Communion.
AllI believe in God, the Father
almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our
Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
(or)
AllI believe in God the Father
almighty,
maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our
Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead and buried.
He descended into hell;
the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
the holy catholic Church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
The Apostles' Creed may also be used in the following form
Do you believe and trust in God the
Father?
AllI believe in God, the
Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus
Christ?
AllI believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
Do you believe and trust in the Holy
Spirit?
AllI believe in the Holy
Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
The Athanasian Creed
The authorized form of the Athanasian Creed is that contained in The Book of Common Prayer.
In addition to the Nicene Creed, the Apostles' Creed and the Athanasian Creed, these Affirmations of Faith are also authorized.
Do you believe and trust in God the
Father,
source of all being and life,
the one for whom we exist?
AllWe believe and trust
in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the
Son,
who took our human nature,
died for us and rose again?
AllWe believe and trust
in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Holy
Spirit,
who gives life to the people of God
and makes Christ known in the world?
AllWe believe and trust
in him.
This is the faith of the Church.
AllThis is our faith.
We believe and trust in one God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
We proclaim the Church's faith in Jesus
Christ.
AllWe believe and declare
that our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Son of God, is both divine and human.
God, of the being of the Father,
the only Son from before time began;
human from the being of his mother, born in the world;
Allfully God and fully
human;
human in both mind and body.
As God he is equal to the Father,
as human he is less than the Father.
AllAlthough he is both divine and human
he is not two beings but one Christ.
One, not by turning God into flesh,
but by taking humanity into God;
Alltruly one, not by mixing
humanity with Godhead,
but by being one person.
For as mind and body form one human
being
so the one Christ is both divine and human.
AllThe Word became flesh
and lived among us;
we have seen his glory,
the glory of the only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth.
from the Athanasian Creed
AllWe believe in God the Father,
God almighty, by whose plan
earth and heaven sprang to being,
all created things began.
We believe in Christ the Saviour,
Son of God in human frame,
virgin-born, the child of Mary
upon whom the Spirit came.
Christ, who on the cross forsaken,
like a lamb to slaughter led,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
he descended to the dead.
We believe in Jesus risen,
heaven's king to rule and reign,
to the Father's side ascended
till as judge he comes again.
We believe in God the Spirit;
in one Church, below, above:
saints of God in one communion,
one in holiness and love.
So by faith, our sins forgiven,
Christ our Saviour, Lord and friend,
we shall rise with him in glory
to the life that knows no end
(May be sung to any 87.87 or 87.87.D tune.)
Let us affirm our faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God.
AllThough he was divine,
he did not cling to equality with God,
but made himself nothing.
Taking the form of a slave,
he was born in human likeness.
He humbled himself
and was obedient to death,
even the death of the cross.
Therefore God has raised him on high,
and given him the name above every name:
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow,
and every voice proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
cf Philippians 2.6-11
Let us declare our faith
in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
AllChrist died for our sins
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he was buried;
he was raised to life on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures;
afterwards he appeared to his followers,
and to all the apostles:
this we have received,
and this we believe.
Amen.
cf 1 Corinthians 15.3-7
We say together in faith
AllHoly, holy, holy
is the Lord God almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.
We believe in God the Father,
who created all things:
Allfor by his will they
were created
and have their being.
We believe in God the Son,
who was slain:
Allfor with his blood,
he purchased us for God,
from every tribe and language,
from every people and nation.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit:
Allthe Spirit and the Bride
say, 'Come!'
Even so come, Lord Jesus!
Amen.
cf Revelation 4.8,11;5.9;22.17,20
Let us declare our faith in God.
All We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us
with power from on high.
We believe in one God;
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
cf Ephesians 3
when celebrated within a service other than Baptism or Confirmation
A Corporate Renewal of Baptismal Vows
The president may use words of introduction to this part of the service.
A large candle may be lit. The president may address the congregation as follows
In baptism, God calls us out of darkness
into his marvellous light.
To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with
him.
Therefore I ask:
Do you reject the devil and all rebellion
against God?
AllI reject them.
Do you renounce the deceit and corruption
of evil?
AllI renounce them.
Do you repent of the sins that separate us
from God and neighbour?
AllI repent of them.
Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?
AllI turn to Christ.
Do you submit to Christ as Lord?
AllI submit to Christ.
Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth
and the life?
AllI come to Christ.
The president may say
May almighty God who has given you the desire to follow Christ
give you the strength to continue in the way.
The Profession of Faith
The president addresses the congregation
Brothers and sisters, I ask you to profess the faith of the Church.
Do you believe and trust in God the
Father?
AllI believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus
Christ?
AllI believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judgeg the living and the
dead.
Do you believe and trust in the Holy
Spirit?
AllI believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
The president says
Almighty God,
we thank you for our fellowship in the household of faith
with all who have been baptized into your name.
Keep us faithful to our baptism,
and so make us ready for that day
when the whole creation shall be made perfect in your
Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
AllAmen.
The president may use the Affirmation of Commitment (E14).
The president concludes the Renewal of Vows saying
May Christ dwell in your hearts through
faith,
that you may be rooted and grounded in love
and bring forth the fruit of the Spirit.
AllAmen.
This Affirmation of Commitment may be used after an authorized Creed or Affirmation of Faith
Will you continue in the apostles' teaching
and fellowship,
in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers?
AllWith the help of God,
I will.
Will you persevere in resisting evil
and,
whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the
Lord?
AllWith the help of God,
I will.
Will you proclaim by word and example
the good news of God in Christ?
AllWith the help of God,
I will.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all
people,
loving your neighbour as yourself?
AllWith the help of God,
I will.
Will you acknowledge Christ's authority
over human society,
by prayer for the world and its leaders,
by defending the weak, and by seeking peace and justice?
AllWith the help of God,
I will.
© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004