As Euery Mans Devocion Serveth Without Blame
The following statement from the first Book of Common Prayer (1549) summarizes the Anglican position on ceremonies:
As touching kneeling, crossing, holding up of handes, knocking upon the brest, and other gestures: they may be used or left as euery mans devocion serueth without blame.
Most ceremonies, however useful, are inessential and should not become causes for dispute. Nevertheless, the 1928 Prayer Book does mandate a few ceremonies, such as the sign of the cross after baptism (page 280), standing for the gospel (page 70), kneeling for communion (page 82), and giving a ring at marriage (page 302). These ceremonies, along with the use of vestments, were bitterly opposed in the 16th and 17th centuries by the English Puritans, but they became universal in Anglican churches.
Aside from these few Prayer Book ceremonies, almost the only ceremony traditionally enforced by the Anglican Church is bowing at the name of Jesus.
The 1603 Canons of the Church of England mandate that
...when in time of Divine Service the Lord Jesus shall be mentioned, due and lowly reverence shall be done by all persons present, as it hath been accustomed; testifying by these outward ceremonies and gestures.. .inward humility, Christian resolution, and due acknowledgment that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, is the only Saviour of the world....
This generally is interpreted to mean that if one is standing or sitting he or she should bow the head when the word ‘Jesus’ is said in the course of worship.
Common Ceremonies and the Occasions of Use
The most common ceremonies used in Anglican churches are as follows:
Bowing: At the name of Jesus, at mention of ‘Trinity’, and when the three persons of the Trinity are mentioned together (‘Father, Son, and Holy Ghost’); when the cross or the celebrant passes in procession; when passing an altar on which the Sacrament is not reserved; when someone bows to you; at certain points in the Gloria in excelsis, the Creed, and other prayers and canticles; during the Words of Institution in the Canon, but looking up for the elevations.
Genuflection: At the Incarnatus in the Creed (not because of mention of St. Mary, but because we remember then that Christ came down from heaven); when passing or being passed by the Blessed Sacrament (e.g., when entering or leaving a pew before the high altar); when the Bishop Ordinary passes in procession or when greeting him formally. Our Lord gets a genuflection on the right knee, the Bishop gets the left knee. A ‘double genuflection’ is one on both knees, which is done especially at veneration of the Cross on Good Friday.
Sign of the Cross: In general this is done when receiving a blessing, when ending a great prayer, and when hearing or speaking the gospel.
When receiving a blessing would include: the grace at the end of Morning or Evening Prayer or before a meal; absolution after confession; the blessing at the end of the Eucharist; when the Bishop gives a blessing in procession; when the congregation is blessed with the Blessed Sacrament at Benediction; when blessing oneself with holy water on entering the church; before receiving holy communion.
When ending a great prayer includes the end of the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds and the Gloria in excelsis and