Changes

==Reformation==

==Reformation==

[[Image:Chester.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Chester]] Cathedral]]

[[Image:Chester.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Chester]] Cathedral]]

[[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]] (1489-1556) 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 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.   

[[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]] (1489-1556) 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 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 Cranmer and adopted in 1563 under Queen [[Elizabeth I]]. In these foundational documents the supreme authority and sufficiency of scripture for salvation was explicitly stated. In Cranmer's theology, the Holy Spirit inspires the proper understanding of the Bible in the faithful.  

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 Cranmer and adopted in 1563 under Queen [[Elizabeth I]]. In these foundational documents the supreme authority and sufficiency of scripture for salvation was explicitly stated. In Cranmer's theology, the Holy Spirit inspires the proper understanding of the Bible in the faithful.  

==[[Victorian era]]==

==[[Victorian era]]==

===Morality===

===Morality===

The late Victorian social purity movement heralded a new phase in the history of moral regulation, generating significant levels of Anglican and Nonconformist support for male chastity and the elimination of the sexual double standard. Historians have studied the use criminal legislation and censorship to elevate standards of public morality. Morgan (2007) stresses the role of women activists who were prominent campaigners for social purity. Women purity workers exerted enormous pressure on the professional hierarchies of church and chapel, actively reworking Christian readings of the body so as to bring the moral influence of the churches to bear on public opinion. In so doing, they brought about a significant transformation in clerical attitudes that regarded discussions of sex as beyond the boundaries of civilized discourse and led in the promotion of a regulatory, but nonetheless highly public, religious discourse on sexuality. <ref> Sue Morgan, "'Wild Oats or Acorns?' Social Purity, Sexual Politics and the Response of the Late-Victorian Church," ''Journal of Religious History'' 2007 31(2): 151-168 online at [[EBSCO]]</ref>

The late Victorian social purity movement heralded a new phase in the history of moral regulation, generating significant levels of Anglican and Nonconformist support for male chastity and the elimination of the sexual double standard. Historians have studied the use criminal legislation and censorship to elevate standards of public morality. Morgan (2007) stresses the role of women activists who were prominent campaigners for social purity. Women purity workers exerted enormous pressure on the professional hierarchies of church and chapel, actively reworking Christian readings of the body so as to bring the moral influence of the churches to bear on public opinion. In so doing, they brought about a significant transformation in clerical attitudes that regarded discussions of sex as beyond the boundaries of civilized discourse and led in the promotion of a regulatory, but nonetheless highly public, religious discourse on sexuality.<ref>Sue Morgan, "'Wild Oats or Acorns?' Social Purity, Sexual Politics and the Response of the Late-Victorian Church," ''Journal of Religious History'' 2007 31(2): 151-168 online at [[EBSCO]]</ref>

===High, Low, Broad===

===High, Low, Broad===

The Church of England struggled to maintain within itself the diametrically opposed tendencies of high-church Anglo-Catholicism and low-church evangelicalism. Even within the broad church movement, disciples of low-church historian and Rugby headmaster Thomas Arnold (1795-1842) and former Unitarian founder of [[Christian Socialism]] Frederick Denison Maurice (1805-72), while overlapping somewhat in their membership, based their comprehensiveness on different theology.<ref> Jeremy Morris, "The Spirit of Comprehension: Examining the Broad Church Synthesis in England," ''Anglican & Episcopal History'' 2006 75(3): 423-443 </ref>

The Church of England struggled to maintain within itself the diametrically opposed tendencies of high-church Anglo-Catholicism and low-church evangelicalism. Even within the broad church movement, disciples of low-church historian and Rugby headmaster Thomas Arnold (1795-1842) and former Unitarian founder of [[Christian Socialism]] Frederick Denison Maurice (1805–72), while overlapping somewhat in their membership, based their comprehensiveness on different theology.<ref>Jeremy Morris, "The Spirit of Comprehension: Examining the Broad Church Synthesis in England," ''Anglican & Episcopal History'' 2006 75(3): 423-443</ref>

===Ecumenical efforts===

===Ecumenical efforts===

In the late 19th, 20th, and early 21st centuries, Anglican priests have participated in several ecumenical events. The [[Eucharist|Lord's supper]] was shared with Scottish [[Presbyterians]] in 1913<ref>http://justus.anglican.org/resources/timeline/15ecumenical.html</ref>. Three bishops of the Church of England converted to the [[Roman Catholic]] church in 2011, and more than a thousand clergy and laity have indicated that they are likely to convert as well.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1821374,00.html</ref>

In the late 19th, 20th, and early 21st centuries, Anglican priests have participated in several ecumenical events. The [[Eucharist|Lord's supper]] was shared with Scottish [[Presbyterians]] in 1913.<ref>http://justus.anglican.org/resources/timeline/15ecumenical.html</ref> Three bishops of the Church of England converted to the [[Roman Catholic]] church in 2011, and more than a thousand clergy and laity have indicated that they are likely to convert as well.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1821374,00.html</ref>

==Leadership==

==Leadership==

[[File:Anglican church.jpg|thumbnail|375px|Anglican Church in [[Australia]]

[[File:Anglican church.jpg|thumbnail|375px|Anglican Church in [[Australia]]

 

<small>(photo obtained from [http://www.flickr.com/photos/75905404@N00/2152137897/ Flickr], see: [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en license agreement])</small>]]

<small>(photo obtained from [http://www.flickr.com/photos/75905404@N00/2152137897/ Flickr], see: [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en license agreement])</small>]]

The British monarch (currently, Queen [[Elizabeth II]]) is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.  The monarch also bears the title Defender of the Faith. A 1701 law, still in effect, prevents a Roman Catholic or spouse of a Roman Catholic from becoming king or queen.

The British monarch (currently, Queen [[Elizabeth II]]) is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.  The monarch also bears the title Defender of the Faith. A 1701 law, still in effect, prevents a Roman Catholic or spouse of a Roman Catholic from becoming king or queen.

<ref>  

<ref>

{{cite web

{{cite web

| url = http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?activeTextDocId=1565208

| url = http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?activeTextDocId=1565208

===Protestant Experimentalists (group of Anglican modernists)===

===Protestant Experimentalists (group of Anglican modernists)===

In the early 20th century several Anglican priests and scholars showed interest in the new wired and wireless communications technologies such as radio and their possible use in furthering Christianity.  Their interests included telepathy, psychic research, psychology, and healing.  Such Anglican intellectuals were the Anglican Archbishop Frederick Du Vernet and the Espicopal bible scholar Kirsopp Lake. <ref> [http://jaar.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/75/3/651 "Radio Mind: Protestant Experimentalists on the Frontiers of Healing"], ''Journal of the American Academy of Religion'' 2007 75(3):651-683</ref>

In the early 20th century several Anglican priests and scholars showed interest in the new wired and wireless communications technologies such as radio and their possible use in furthering Christianity.  Their interests included telepathy, psychic research, psychology, and healing.  Such Anglican intellectuals were the Anglican Archbishop Frederick Du Vernet and the Espicopal bible scholar Kirsopp Lake.<ref>[http://jaar.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/75/3/651 "Radio Mind: Protestant Experimentalists on the Frontiers of Healing"], ''Journal of the American Academy of Religion'' 2007 75(3):651-683</ref>

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

{{DEFAULTSORT:England, Church of}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:England, Church of}}

[[Category:Anglicans]]

[[Category:Anglicans]]

[[category:Christian Denominations]]

[[Category:Christian Denominations]]

[[Category:British History]]

[[Category:British History]]

[[Category:Protestantism]]

[[Category:Protestantism]]

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[[Category:Featured articles]]