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The Thirty-Nine Articles: What They Are and Why They Were Written

Rev. C•D•F• Warrington, M.Div.
By Rev. C•D•F• Warrington, M.Div.

Ordained Minister, M.Div.

May 16, 2026

2 min read

Oil painting of the drafting of the Thirty-Nine Articles in Reformation England with candlelight and scholarly theological debate

The Thirty-Nine Articles were established in their final form in 1571 under Queen Elizabeth I, though they developed across several decades of English Reformation. They represent the Church of England's attempt to define a doctrinal identity that was Protestant in its core convictions while remaining catholic in its continuity with the ancient church.

The Historical Development

The Articles did not spring up fully formed. Thomas Cranmer produced the Forty-Two Articles in 1553, which were revised and reduced under Elizabeth to thirty-nine. The process reflects the complex politics of the English Reformation: defining the Church of England required navigating between Lutheran and Reformed influences, managing Catholic dissent, and avoiding the extremes of the Anabaptist movements.

Their Theological Character

Theologically, the Thirty-Nine Articles are Reformed in their doctrine of justification, Scripture, and the sacraments. They reject transubstantiation, Roman penitential practices, and the authority of the papacy. At the same time, they preserve episcopal church government and a high regard for the early church councils. This combination has made Anglicanism a distinct tradition that is neither fully Lutheran nor simply Reformed.

Their Ongoing Role

The Thirty-Nine Articles remain the doctrinal standard of the Church of England and are received as authoritative by Anglican churches in the Global South and by many evangelical Anglican bodies worldwide. Understanding them is essential for understanding not only Anglican history but the breadth of Protestant theological inheritance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Thirty-Nine Articles and why were they written?

The Thirty-Nine Articles are the doctrinal standards of the Church of England, finalized in 1571 under Queen Elizabeth I. They were written to define the doctrinal identity of the Church of England following the Reformation break with Rome, distinguishing Anglican teaching from both Roman Catholicism and the more radical Protestant movements. The articles grew out of earlier efforts under Thomas Cranmer and Edward VI, including the Forty-Two Articles of 1553, and represent the mature doctrinal settlement of the English Reformation.

When were the Thirty-Nine Articles written and who authored them?

The Thirty-Nine Articles were developed over several decades in the sixteenth century, with Archbishop Thomas Cranmer drafting the earlier Forty-Two Articles in 1553. After the Catholic reign of Queen Mary I interrupted the Reformation, Archbishop Matthew Parker revised and reduced the articles to their final number of 39, which were formally authorized by Convocation in 1563 and given parliamentary standing in 1571. The articles reflect the combined influence of Cranmer's earlier work, Lutheran Reformation theology, and Calvinist Reformed doctrine.

What is the primary historical context for the Thirty-Nine Articles?

The Thirty-Nine Articles were produced during the Elizabethan Religious Settlement, the period following Queen Elizabeth I's accession in 1558 when England returned to Protestantism after the brief Catholic restoration under Queen Mary I. Elizabeth sought a religious settlement broad enough to include most of her subjects while clearly distinguishing the Church of England from Rome. The articles also responded to the challenges of Puritanism on the one hand and continued Catholic influence on the other, representing the distinctive Anglican via media.

What do the Thirty-Nine Articles teach about the sacraments?

The Thirty-Nine Articles affirm two sacraments ordained by Christ: Baptism and the Supper of the Lord (Article 25), rejecting the five additional sacraments of Roman Catholicism (confirmation, penance, orders, matrimony, and extreme unction) as not having 'the like nature of Sacraments with Baptism and the Lord's Supper.' Article 28 denies transubstantiation while affirming a real spiritual presence of Christ's body and blood to faithful receivers. Baptism is described as 'a sign of Regeneration or new Birth' (Article 27), reflecting the Church of England's retention of infant baptism.

How are the Thirty-Nine Articles structured?

The Thirty-Nine Articles are organized into roughly four sections dealing with different aspects of Christian doctrine and Anglican church order. Articles 1–8 address God, the Trinity, the incarnation, and the creeds; Articles 9–18 cover sin, free will, justification, works, and predestination; Articles 19–36 treat the church, councils, Scripture, ministry, and the sacraments; and Articles 37–39 conclude with matters of civil government and the taking of oaths. This organization moves from doctrines about God and salvation to matters of ecclesiology and church-state relations.

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