Anglican Sacraments - Characteristics of Sacraments

Characteristics of Sacraments

As defined by the 16th century Anglican divine, Richard Hooker, the sacraments are "visible signs of invisible grace." However, their "efficacy resteth obscure to our understanding, except we search somewhat more distinctly what grace in particular that is whereunto they are referred and what manner of operation they have towards it". They thus serve to convey sanctification on the individual participating in the sacramental action, but Hooker expressly warns that that "all receive not the grace of God which receive the sacraments of his grace".

To be considered a valid sacrament both the appropriate form and matter must be present and duly used. Form is the specific verbal and physical liturgical action associated with the sacrament while the matter refers to the essential material objects used (e.g. water in Baptism; bread and wine in the Eucharist, etc.). This in itself is not sufficient to ensure the 'validity' there must also be the right intention on the part of the minister and, when the sacrament is ministered to an adult, the minimal requirement is that the latter must not place an obstacle in the way of the grace to be received.

The question as to who is to be considered the minister of a 'valid' sacrament has led to serious divergences of opinion within Anglicanism. It is clear that in emergency any layperson may administer baptism. Whether a deacon can celebrate marriage varies from Province to Province. The theory that to be validly ordained, Anglican clergy must be ordained and/or consecrated by bishops whose own consecration can be traced to one of the Apostles (see Apostolic succession) has always been a minority position. Bradshaw sums up the position as follows:

...Hooker and the great weight of representative Anglican theology did not unchurch continental non-episcopal churches. Anglican ecclesiology does not, classically, hold the view that the church and sacramental grace depend upon the episcopal succession from the apostles.