What We Believe
This is a summary of the core beliefs that shape our faith, worship, and mission as the Cogges churches.
Rooted in Scripture and centered on Jesus Christ, these truths guide every part of our life together.
We believe in the Nicene, Apostolic and Athanasian Creeds and the 39 Articles as part of the historic teaching of the Church of England where we find out about the core beliefs in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit
Bible
We believe the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation is the inspired Word of God - infallible, authoritative, powerful and life-transforming. We believe the Bible to be the primary way the Lord reveals himself to humanity.
Salvation
We believe that humanity was created very good and in the image of God. But humanity, by deliberately and intentionally disobeying God, sinned. The consequences of sin is death and eternal separation from God. We need to be saved. Our only hope of redemption is to recognise our sin, turn away from it and to believe in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. This gift of salvation is given by Jesus through His grace and mercy to all who believe.
We are only saved by the renewing of the Holy Spirit and justification (declared righteous) by grace through faith, we become an heir and co-heir with Christ, according to the hope of eternal life. The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit. The outward evidence is sanctification (a life of righteousness, holiness and bearing lasting fruit).
Human Identity
We believe that every human being is created in the image of God and is therefore of inherent and equal worth, dignity and value. Human identity is not self-created but received as a gift from God. From conception to natural death, every human life is sacred and to be protected, honoured and cared for. Because each person bears God’s image, we are called to treat all people with compassion, justice and respect, upholding the sanctity of life in all circumstances.
Baptism
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ, Head of the Church, established two sacraments (Holy practices) for the Church to follow: Water Baptism and Communion. Baptism in water is a direct commandment of our Lord. It is for all believers. This Holy sacrament identifies the believer with Jesus in His death, burial and resurrection. It is a public testimony and sign of inner faith.
Communion
We believe the sacrament of Communion is also a commandment of the Lord Jesus that must be received consistently until His return. Only believers are invited to the Table of the Lord, which consists of the bread and the cup. The bread – His body, which was broken for us. The cup – His blood that was shed for us. Both elements are witnesses of the New Covenant believers now enjoy while prophetically declaring His soon return.
Worship
We believe worship should be Spirit-led and grounded in truth, born out of a thankful heart in response to God’s undeserved kindness to us through the work of Jesus. Worship is both a corporate act that reminds believers of what God has done and also an individual act of lifelong sacrifice that seeks to glorify God in every aspect of life.
Marriage
We believe that marriage is a sacred covenant established by God between one man and one woman. It is life long and to the exclusion of all others. It reflects the loving, lifelong relationship between Christ and His Church, marked by faithfulness, mutual love, respect, and partnership. Marriage is God’s design and is foundational for both family and society and is designed to provide a safe and nurturing environment for both spouses and children. We believe that sexual intimacy is designed for marriage alone.
Healing
We believe that freedom from sickness is provided for in Christ’s atonement and is available to all believers today.
Discipleship
We believe following Jesus means committing to a lifelong journey of growing in love and obedience of God, deepening trust in Him, and becoming more like Christ. Every believer is called to be a disciple - learning from Jesus and living out His teachings in everyday life.
We grow as disciples through prayer, studying Scripture, worship, community, service, and sharing our faith. Discipleship isn’t just about personal growth; it’s about joining in God’s mission to bring hope and healing to the world.
Leadership
We believe in the leadership of both men and women - ordained and lay (non-ordained)
Love
“The greatest commandment is to ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,’ and the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’. All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37–40). Love is therefore the first and most important mark of Christlikeness. In response, we desire our individual lives and our church community to embody genuine love and affection for God and one another.
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As a church we affirm the Jerusalem Declaration of 2008 (https://aceanglicans.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Jerusalem-Declaration.pdf)
If you would like to explore these beliefs further or speak to someone, please contact our church office or speak with a member of the clergy team.