A view from without: Reflections on the Old Catholic Church from an Anglican perspective

This article offers a personal reflection on the Old Catholic Church from an Anglican perspective. The global nature of Anglicanism and the challenges (as well as the benefits) of its the colonial heritage stand in contrast to the more European-centred make-up of the Old Catholic churches. The Church of England may not always be the most obvious interlocutor for Old Catholics; more similarities may be found with, for instance, the Scottish Episcopal Church. Communion between Anglicans and Old Catholics was established through the Bonn Agreement (1931), which makes possible mutual participation in each other’s sacraments and the exchange of ministries. Nonetheless, the Old Catholic church remains comparatively little known in the United Kingdom (or indeed in Germany). The hopes resting in the Bonn Agreement are explored, and the resulting relationship considered. The Old Catholics’ commitment to ecumenism, their liturgical development, and their involvement in diaconal projects are highlighted. This is a small church which has larger churches something to offer, particularly in the conscious ways it has tacked disagreement