Anglo-Catholics in Malaysia

St. Aidan of Lindisfarne

We are catholics, but not Roman Catholic.

Malaysian Christians are mostly disconnected with the historic global Christianity. In a country where Christianity is largely understood through the lens of Roman Catholicism on one side and a broad spectrum of Protestant and Evangelical churches on the other, many are seeking a worship that is rooted in the Bible and in the apostolic roots of the historic Church. 

Instead of following a root and tradition that is from the sixteenth century Western Protestant Reformation, there are many seeking something more ancient and original; closer to the early Church. Such reformation Church exists here in Malaysia. It is known as Anglo-Catholicism. 

The term comes from: 

  • Anglo: Derived from the word Angle, the name of a Germanic tribe in the 1st and 2nd century that settled in Britain. 
  • Catholic: Originates from the Greek word katholikos, meaning "universal" or "whole" (from kata "according to" + holos "whole").
The reason this name is used to emphasize the the English people had a long history and established Christianity before the Roman Pope claim universal jurisdiction over all the Christian Churches in the world. And there is a need to differentiate ourselves from the radicalized reformers, also known as Protestants. We consider ourselves preserving the faith of the early Church that was evangelized and established in the British Isles.

Therefore, it is important for Malaysians to understand that Anglo-Catholics are neither Roman Catholic nor Protestant. We remain steadfast in the orthodox faith of the English catholic tradition, without the Western medieval distortions and corruptions, and without the modern issues and schisms of the Protestant movement.

We carry a heritage of more than 1,900 years of Church tradition — the same faith once delivered to the apostles, preserved through the early Church, and handed down to us through the English catholic tradition.

Since 2020, Holy Trinity Asia was formed as a mission to carry this heritage of the Anglo tradition into the land of Malaysia. Our mission is led by a local ordained priest. We have been reaching out and making disciples of Christ through:

It is our vision that Malaysia will grow more disciples who will flourish and remain faithful to what Christ has given to the apostles and the early Church through our sacred tradition.

I hope I will write more to continue to raise awareness and draw more elects of God who are looking for a wholesome traditional Church in the English apostolic faith. I plan to write another article about why is it important to be part of a traditional Church that is connected to the Apostles and early Church practices. Stay tuned.