Page "Anglican Communion" Paragraph 9

Early in its development, Anglicanism developed a vernacular prayer book, called the Book of Common Prayer.

Unlike other traditions, Anglicanism has never been governed by a magisterium nor by appeal to one founding theologian, nor by an extra-credal summary of doctrine ( such as the Westminster Confession of the Presbyterian Church ).

Instead, Anglicans have typically appealed to the Book of Common Prayer and its offshoots as a guide to Anglican theology and practice.

This had the effect of inculcating the principle of lex orandi, lex credendi (" the law of prayer is the law of belief ") as the foundation of Anglican identity and confession.