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The '''Church of England''' (or, ''Anglican Church'') is the English national church that traces its history back to the sixth century in England. Under King [[Henry VIII]] ir broke with Rome and formed a [[denomination]] that became part of the [[Protestant]] [[Reformation]]. It contains High Church elements (similar to the Roman Catholics), Low Church elements (similar to evangelicals), and a Broad Church middle. It is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
The '''Church of England''' (or, ''Anglican Church'') is the English national church that traces its history back to the sixth century in England. Under King [[Henry VIII]] it broke with Rome and formed a [[denomination]] that became part of the [[Protestant]] [[Reformation]]. It contains High Church elements (similar to the Roman Catholics), Low Church elements (similar to evangelicals), and a Broad Church middle. It is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
==Establishment==
==Establishment==
[[Image:Anglican Christ Church.jpg|thumb|230px|Anglican Christ Church, Claremont, Western Australia]]
[[Image:Anglican Christ Church.jpg|thumb|230px|Anglican Christ Church, Claremont, Western Australia]]
The church was formally organised by King [[Henry VIII]] of [[England]]. Like Oriental and Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches (and unlike Protestant churches), Anglicans maintain authority within the church through [[Apostolic succession]].
The church was formally organised by King [[Henry VIII]] of [[England]]. Like Oriental and Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches (and unlike Protestant churches), Anglicans maintain authority within the church through [[Apostolic succession]].
The British monarch (currently, Queen [[Elizabeth II]]) is head of the church.
==Religion==
[[Henry VIII]], who reigned 1509-47, broke with the Pope on two issues, his divorce, and control over the Church inside England, as he declared himself head of the Church in England. Disagreement with Henry on religious issues was a political affront, and he could not tolerate it. Moderate reform took place in the 1530s because Queen Anne and top aides Thomas Cranmer and Cromwell had the king's ear and carried out attacks on the old religion. Queen Anne patronized and promoted clergy and bishops of a reforming turn of mind; Cromwell (1485?–1540), the Earl of Essex, was a convinced reformer and in effect the ruthless and unpopular prime minister from 1532 until he fell from favour and was beheaded in 1540. Cranmer (1489–1556) was archbishop of Canterbury after 1533. Henry persecuted of those who still held to Papal Supremacy, and encouraged Protestant ideas to flourish. Protestantism was officially established during the short reign of Henry’s son, Edward VI.
After Henry's death in 1547 Cranmer wrote much of the first ''Book of Common Prayer'' (1549, revised 1552), the centerpiece of the Anglican liturgy. The basic summary of Anglican beliefs and practices is the [[Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion]], written by [[Thomas Cranmer]] and adopted in 1563 under Queen [[Elizabeth I]]. This marks the full establishment of the Church of England, largely Protestant in theology but with a hierarchical structure similar to the old Roman Catholic establishment, and a largely Catholic liturgy translated from Latin into English. Numerous '''dissenters''' had theological differences, a major factor leading to the [[English Civil War]] of the 17th century.
==Leadership==
The British monarch (currently, Queen [[Elizabeth II]]) is titular head of the church.
The [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] is the [[Primate]] of the church.
The [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] is the [[Primate]] of the church.
The principal book of worship in Anglican churches is the [[Book of Common Prayer]]. Most churches in England still follow the liturgy set down in it, despite moves to modernize the language - all of which were rejected by the Bishops. The basic summary of Anglican beliefs and practices is the [[Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion]], written by [[Thomas Cramner]] and adopted in 1563.
The principal book of worship in Anglican churches is the [[Book of Common Prayer]]. Most churches in England still follow the liturgy set down in it, despite moves to modernize the language - all of which were rejected by the Bishops.
The Church of England is referred to as the "established church" of England. At the time of the [[American Revolution]], it was a legal requirement in England that all public officials, including university professors, take an oath to uphold the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England. There were no such requirements in the colonies, but the Church of England was established and tax supported in the five southern colonies. They were disestablished during the Revolution.<ref> This is what the [[United States Constitution|US Constitution]] is referring to when it says in Article VI that "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States" and in the [[Bill of Rights]] when it says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."</ref>
The Church of England is referred to as the "established church" of England. At the time of the [[American Revolution]], it was a legal requirement in England that all public officials, including university professors, take an oath to uphold the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England. There were no such requirements in the colonies, but the Church of England was established and tax supported in the five southern colonies. They were disestabvlished during the Revolution.<ref> This is what the [[United States Constitution|US Constitution]] is referring to when it says in Article VI that "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States" and in the [[Bill of Rights]] when it says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."</ref>
* Porter, Muriel. ''The New Puritans: The Rise of Fundamentalism in the Anglican Church'' (2007)
* Porter, Muriel. ''The New Puritans: The Rise of Fundamentalism in the Anglican Church'' (2007)
* Rosenthal, James. ''The Essential Guide to the Anglican Communion'' (1998)
* Rosenthal, James. ''The Essential Guide to the Anglican Communion'' (1998)
* Sykes, Stephen, and John Booty, eds. ''The Study of Anglicalism'' (1988), important essays by 31 scholars on all aspects of the Church
* Sykes, Stephen, and John Booty, eds. ''The Study of Anglicanism'' (1988), important essays by 31 scholars on all aspects of the Church
===Primary sources===
===Primary sources===
* Evans, G.R. and Robert Wright, eds. ''The Anglican Tradition: A Handbook of Sources'' (1991), over 600 historical documents
* Evans, G.R. and Robert Wright, eds. ''The Anglican Tradition: A Handbook of Sources'' (1991), over 600 historical documents