The Declaration of Assent and Oaths is part of the service of ordination of the Church of England. Steeped in history, it draws together some essential threads of what it means to be Anglican, and how Anglican identity is expressed through liturgy, Scriptures and Creeds. All licensed clergy promise to abide by its provisions to recognise the authority of the Church of England’s historic formularies of faith and to use only its authorised forms of service.

This concise guide explores this key Anglican text, offering an accessible introduction that explores the Declaration's history, theology and contemporary relevance. It unpacks the significance of making the declaration, the power of language and symbol and the relationships that are created by them, and explores how we understand and appropriate them faithfully today.