Thoughts on Statues and Icons?

RileyG · Monday at 3:07 AM

Hi all,

Out of curiosity, what is the overall Anglican view on statues and icons? Does it matter if a Church is low Church, broad Church, or high Church? Or is it not an issue at all? Or does it matter?

I'm stating this out of deep love for the Book of Common Prayer, as a Roman Catholic, and curious how the Anglican Church sees high Church liturgical items?

I also deeply love my Anglican and Episcopalian brothers and sisters in Christ!

Thoughts?

Peace!

seeking.IAM · Monday at 8:29 AM

I can't give the Anglican view, but I, as one Anglican, have found that their inclusion varies according to the bent of the parish. I recently moved from a historic high Anglo-Catholic parish to a newer parish with broad churchmanship. My former parish had statues, crucifixes, stoups, and a votive candle stand. It was on the national register of historic places. My newer broad-church parish founded much later has none of those. If you didn't read the sign on the curb and just walked in you might think you were in a Baptist or Methodist church. I would say it is a matter of parish preference and history not to much for-it or against-it. I really prefer and miss the former, but believe in supporting the church in my new community if possible, plus the Rector gives awesome sermons.

PloverWing · Monday at 8:44 AM

I'm hesitant to speak for the entirety of Anglican practice worldwide

, so I'll just speak to what I've seen.

My experience is that statues and icons are viewed as aids to prayer that are helpful for some people. Obviously, they shouldn't be viewed as gods in themselves (and Catholic and Orthodox Christians would agree with this); if one is tempted in this direction, then avoid the occasion of temptation. But otherwise, statues and icons and stained glass images are visual ways to invite people into the contemplation of the divine.

I've seen statues and stained glass more often in large cathedrals and older churches, less often in smaller and newer suburban churches. I don't see icons as often, but there's a very large "Dancing Saints" icon at St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco which I've heard of but haven't seen in person.

RileyG · Monday at 1:26 PM

Thank you both!

Peace

Philip_B · 2026-07-15T15:23:25-0500

In our local church, we have a couple of small Icons in the Chapel, and in the main body of the Church, off to the epistle side, there is a dish with a candle in the centre and several tealights around it to serve as votive candles for those who wish to use them. Some of us use them often, others occasionally, and some never.

In the parish Church there is a large contemporary icon (maybe 6 ft high) of All Saints which was a gift from the RCC Parish as a thank-you for letting them use the Church whilst they built their new one, but no votives.

No statues to speak of. Some Anglican Churches I have seen have a statue of Our Lady of Walsingham; they tend to be more catholic, whereas more evangelical churches are unlikely to approve of the practice.

RileyG · 2026-07-15T16:35:03-0500

Philip_B said:
In our local church, we have a couple of small Icons in the Chapel, and in the main body of the Church, off to the epistle side, there is a dish with a candle in the centre and several tealights around it to serve as votive candles for those who wish to use them. Some of us use them often, others occasionally, and some never.

In the parish Church there is a large contemporary icon (maybe 6 ft high) of All Saints which was a gift from the RCC Parish as a thank-you for letting them use the Church whilst they built their new one, but no votives.

No statues to speak of. Some Anglican Churches I have seen have a statue of Our Lady of Walsingham; they tend to be more catholic, whereas more evangelical churches are unlikely to approve of the practice.

Thanks for the answer!

Peace

seeking.IAM · 2026-07-15T21:59:17-0500

Did someone say statues?

RileyG · 2026-07-15T22:01:55-0500

seeking.IAM said:
Did someone say statues?

View attachment 381462

Love the risen Christ on the cross!

I'm RC, and in my parish growing up, they had the risen Christ on the cross instead of a traditional crucifix found in most Catholic Churches. In my current parish, as well with 99% of RC parishes I've attended, it's always the crucifix.

Which saints are those? I assume the woman on the left is Mary, mother of Jesus.

seeking.IAM · 2026-07-16T00:52:00-0500

RileyG said:
Which saints are those?

I have a chart of them all at home but I am traveling right now. I will try to remember to answer your question when I am home.

RileyG · 2026-07-16T03:06:42-0500

seeking.IAM said:
I have a chart of them all at home but I am traveling right now. I will try to remember to answer your question when I am home.

Nice! Safe travels!

Tom8907 · 2026-07-16T06:29:34-0500

Anglican from the Reformed tradition here.

Honestly viewing God's glory and sovereignty I can't really see a point to venerating and bowing to statues and icons.

RileyG · 2026-07-16T13:23:39-0500

Tom8907 said:
Anglican from the Reformed tradition here.

Honestly viewing God's glory and sovereignty I can't really see a point to venerating and bowing to statues and icons.

Thanks for the response!

What do you mean by from the Reformed tradition? That you are Anglican with a Reformed view? Or you were previously from the Reformed denomination and now Anglican?

I know Anglicanism is consider the via media between Catholicism and Protestantism, per what I've read.

Thanks!

seeking.IAM · 2026-07-16T13:29:20-0500

RileyG said:
Thanks for the response!

What do you mean by from the Reformed tradition? That you are Anglican with a Reformed view? Or you were previously from the Reformed denomination and now Anglican?

I know Anglicanism is consider the via media between Catholicism and Protestantism, per what I've read.

Thanks!

All true, but some Anglicans are farther away from the middle than others.

RileyG · 2026-07-16T13:32:13-0500

seeking.IAM said:
All true, but some Anglicans are farther away from the middle than others.

Ahhh, gotcha! Such as the high Church, Anglo Catholics, broad Church, and low Church?

seeking.IAM · 2026-07-16T15:24:01-0500

Yep. I think the spectrum of Anglicans is one of the best things and the worst things about Anglicanism.

RileyG · 2026-07-16T16:06:07-0500

seeking.IAM said:
Yep. I think the spectrum of Anglicans is one of the best things and the worst things about Anglicanism.

Gotcha! Thank you!

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