Church of England

Definition

The Church of England is the established state church in England, which was formed in the 16th century when King Henry VIII broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and established the Church of England as the official church of the kingdom. It is the mother church of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Church of England was established in 1534 when King Henry VIII was declared the supreme head of the church, breaking away from the authority of the Pope.
2. The Thirty-Nine Articles, published in 1563, outlined the Church of England's core beliefs and practices, blending Catholic and Protestant influences.
3. The Book of Common Prayer, first published in 1549, became the standard liturgy for the Church of England and other Anglican churches.
4. The Church of England is governed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is the spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
5. The Church of England played a significant role in the colonization of the Americas, establishing the first permanent English settlement in Jamestown, Virginia in 1607.

Review Questions

• Explain the historical context and significance of the Church of England's formation in the 16th century.
  • The Church of England was formed in 1534 when King Henry VIII broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church. This occurred during the Protestant Reformation, a period of religious upheaval and reform across Europe. By establishing the Church of England as the official state church, Henry VIII asserted his independence from the Catholic Church and the Pope's influence in England. This marked a significant shift in the religious and political landscape of the developing Atlantic world, as the Church of England would go on to play a major role in the colonization of the Americas and the spread of Anglicanism globally.
• Describe the key theological and liturgical features that distinguish the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church.
  • The Church of England blended elements of Catholicism and Protestantism, resulting in a unique theological tradition known as Anglicanism. The Thirty-Nine Articles, published in 1563, outlined the church's core beliefs, which rejected certain Catholic doctrines such as transubstantiation and purgatory, while maintaining a hierarchical structure and many Catholic liturgical practices. The Book of Common Prayer, first published in 1549, became the standard liturgy for the Church of England and other Anglican churches, providing a framework for worship that combined Catholic and Protestant influences. These theological and liturgical features helped to define the Church of England as a distinct branch of Christianity within the developing Atlantic world.
• Analyze the role of the Church of England in the colonization of the Americas and the spread of Anglicanism globally.
  • The Church of England played a significant role in the colonization of the Americas, as the established state church of England. The first permanent English settlement in Jamestown, Virginia in 1607 was founded by the Virginia Company, which had close ties to the Church of England. As the English colonies in North America and the Caribbean expanded, the Church of England established a presence, spreading Anglicanism throughout the developing Atlantic world. The global reach of the Church of England was further solidified through the formation of the Anglican Communion, a worldwide community of Anglican and Episcopal churches that trace their origins back to the Church of England. This global network of Anglican churches, united by a shared theological tradition and liturgy, helped to shape the religious and cultural landscape of the Atlantic world during the colonial era and beyond.

Related terms

Anglican Communion: The worldwide community of Anglican and Episcopal churches that are in full communion with the Church of England.

Protestantism: The branch of Christianity that broke away from the Roman Catholic Church during the 16th century Reformation, rejecting certain Catholic doctrines and practices.

Anglicanism: The theological tradition and practice of the Church of England and other churches in the Anglican Communion, which combines elements of Catholicism and Protestantism.