Anglican Church

Definition

The Anglican Church, also known as the Church of England, is a Christian denomination that originated in 16th-century England. It is the result of the English Reformation, when the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Anglican Church is the third-largest Christian communion in the world, with over 85 million adherents globally.
2. The Church of England is the mother church of the Anglican Communion, which includes various autonomous national churches around the world.
3. The Anglican Church maintains a middle ground between Catholicism and Protestantism, retaining some Catholic traditions while adopting Protestant beliefs.
4. The Anglican Church's theology is based on the Bible, tradition, and reason, emphasizing the importance of personal faith and individual interpretation.
5. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion and serves as the focus of unity for the global Anglican Church.

Review Questions

• Explain the historical context and events that led to the establishment of the Anglican Church.
  • The Anglican Church was established during the English Reformation in the 16th century, when King Henry VIII broke away from the authority of the Roman Catholic Church and declared himself the Supreme Head of the Church of England. This was driven by Henry's desire to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, which the Pope refused to do. The English Reformation resulted in the formation of the Church of England, which retained some Catholic traditions while adopting Protestant beliefs and practices, such as the use of the vernacular in worship and the emphasis on personal faith.
• Describe the key theological and organizational features of the Anglican Church.
  • The Anglican Church is known for its middle ground between Catholicism and Protestantism. It maintains a balance between tradition and reason, with the Bible, tradition, and individual interpretation being the sources of its theology. Organizationally, the Anglican Communion is a global network of autonomous national churches, with the Archbishop of Canterbury serving as the spiritual leader and focus of unity. The Church of England, as the mother church, is the largest and most influential member of the Anglican Communion, and its Book of Common Prayer has been a unifying force in Anglican worship and practice.
• Analyze the role of the Anglican Church in the context of the religious upheavals in the developing Atlantic world.
  • The Anglican Church played a significant role in the religious upheavals of the developing Atlantic world during the 16th and 17th centuries. As the Church of England expanded its influence through colonization and missionary activities, it competed with the Catholic Church for the allegiance of indigenous populations in the Americas and the Caribbean. The Anglican Church's emphasis on personal faith and individual interpretation of scripture appealed to some colonists and Native Americans, leading to the establishment of Anglican communities and the spread of Anglican beliefs and practices. However, this also led to conflicts with Catholic missionaries and the subjugation of indigenous religious traditions, contributing to the religious upheavals and power struggles that characterized the developing Atlantic world during this period.

Related terms

English Reformation: The 16th-century religious and political movement in England that led to the establishment of the Church of England, independent from the Roman Catholic Church.

King Henry VIII: The English monarch who initiated the English Reformation and established the Church of England, making himself the Supreme Head of the church.

Book of Common Prayer: The official prayer book of the Church of England, which standardized the liturgy and practices of the Anglican Church.