A creed is a form of words describing Christian faith.
The name 'creed' comes from the Latin 'credo' which means 'I believe' and which is how some of the creeds begin in Latin.
There are two main creeds that come from the earliest centuries of the Christian faith. These are the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed.
The Apostles' Creed is based on the profession of faith that people used to say before they were baptised. The Apostles' Creed is included in Mattins (Morning Prayer) and Evensong and often at Holy Baptism.
The Nicene Creed (which is derived from a creed agreed at the first Council of Nicaea in 325 AD) is often said at Holy Communion.
Although some people think that the main purpose of a creed is to define what Christians believe, the main use of the creeds in worship is to praise God who, in his grace - his great generosity towards us, has given us the Christian faith for our comfort.
Most of the creeds come in three parts, worshipping the three persons of the Holy Trinity - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The last part, about the Holy Spirit, often includes something about the Church.
The Book of Common Prayer (1662) also contains a third creed called 'the Athanasian Creed' (or 'Quicunque vult' from its opening words in Latin: 'Whosover wishes... ...to be saved...), but this is not often heard in church today.
Common Praise (2000) also includes several alternative 'Professions of faith' which may be used to praise God in 'Services of the Word', family services and the like. Most of these are taken from the New Testament and may reflect very early forms of creed used in the Church of the first century.
© J D Yule 2003