The Anglican church is the state church of England, and is called "the Church of England." In the United States, due to hostility to all things English after the revolutionary war, the Anglican church is known as the Episcopal church.
Anglicanism began in the 16th century when Henry VIII sought an annulment from Catherine of Aragon. The pope (for political reasons mostly) refused to grant the annulment, and so Henry, once an ardent defender of Catholicism, gave his assent to the "Act of Supremacy" making the king the head of the English church. Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer had Calvinist sympathies and used his role to further many aspects of Calvinism in England. However, the Anglican Church still retained many elements of Catholic worship, practice, and doctrine.
Since then Anglicanism has gone through many different phases, a more Calvinistic one under King Edward VI, and one combining elements of Catholicism and Protestantism during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, a vision of Anglicanism persisting to this day. The laity were probably largely indifferent to these changes initially. These changes can be seen in the various Books of Common Prayer, the Anglican worship book. Over time, different "church parties" developed, often tenuously existing side-by-side. They are described below. The Oxford Movement of the 19th century attempted to bring Anglicanism closer to the Catholic faith. This movement was initially greeted with hostility, but soon many of the "Tractarian" reforms were accepted into mainstream Anglicanism. Anglican worship today resembles that of Catholicism in many aspects. The 20th century has been rocky for Anglicanism, as many changes (including women’s ordination) have increasingly pitted liberal against conservative. I have many Anglican friends, and still follow Anglican news and blogs.
As many of my readers know, I was Anglican for 5 years before I became
Catholic. While I could no longer remain Anglican for many reasons, I do miss many elements of Anglicanism. However, these elements are available in the Catholic Church; sometimes I just have to look a little harder to find them.
Overview: The Anglican Communion
Numbers - 80,000,000 worldwide (see Adherents.com)
Date founded: AD 1534, although see Apostolic Succession below
Major Figures - Thomas Cranmer, Lancelot Andrewes, J.H. Newman (later became Catholic), William Temple, Michael Ramsey.
Valid Apostolic Succession - Yes and No. Anglicans claim to have a chain of uninterrupted succession of bishops from before the English Reformation. However, Catholics and Orthodox bishops have generally failed to recognize the validity of Anglican orders. Some Anglicans have been ordained using Old Catholic or Orthodox orders, thus complicating the issue of the validity of individual Anglican bishops and priests. Taken as a whole, Anglican orders are considered invalid from the Catholic and Orthodox perspectives.
# of Sacraments - Varies; the 39 Articles (the articles of Anglican belief) clearly affirm 2; some believe in 7, others more or less
View of Eucharist
- Varies; the 39 Articles reject transubstantiation and advocate a more spiritual presence, akin to Calvinism. Beliefs range from a symbolic view (Evangelical) to transubstantiation (Anglo-Catholic) and every possible position in between. Anglicans tend to use the term "Real Presence" which encompasses the differing views.
Ordination standards
- married and celibate men and women. All of Anglicanism does not ordain women, and technically women bishops are not yet approved, although they exist.
Views on Mary
- varies; Some Anglicans adhere to the full Catholic understanding of Mary, most adhere to the understanding of Mary in the creeds, while some bishops and priests even publicly deny Jesus’ virgin birth.
Major Moral Stands
- The Anglican church was the first Christian group to allow its members to use birth control. In general, the Anglican communion has no overarching moral positions because each province acts independently. In most regions, a traditional understanding of morality is upheld, while in Western Anglicanism the stands are becoming increasingly liberal, including the endorsement of gay marriage and abortion on demand. However, worldwide Anglicanism has spoken out against these practices.
Major Parties/Divisions
- The Anglican church consists of three parties. First, evangelicals (or "low church") that are opposed to elaborate ritual and uniquely Catholic doctrines and practices. Second, broad churchmen, who generally prefer to be united by common prayer and not a creed or doctrine. Third, anglo-catholics, who are practically Roman Catholics outside of communion with Rome. Today, many are a mix and match of all three. Evangelicalism is the predominate form of worldwide Anglicanism.
Major Prayers/Devotions - Book of Common Prayer, Daily Office, Rosary (traditional and Anglican rosary). Anglicanism shares many devotions with Catholics and Orthodox.
Monday was the feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Information on the beautiful icon (pictured to the right), which pious tradition holds was painted by St. Luke, is available from Jennifer here. Even though today is June 29th, this feast day still deserves mentioning.
