Church of England

[[File:Logo of the Church of England.svg|thumb|right|165px|More tea, vicar?]]
{{christianity}}{{hatnote|For that other ''C of E'', see the [[Council of Europe]].}}
{{cquote|Like a toothless old woman muttering in a corner ignored by everyone|||Former Archbishop of Canterbury, [[George Carey]]<ref>[http://anglicansonline.org/archive/news/articles/1999/990909.html The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey] (in office 1991-2002)</ref>}}

The '''Church of England''' (CofE; spoken /siːəv'iː/) is the historical (and still the formal) [[state religion | state church]] of [[England]], and the "mother church" of [[Anglican Communion | Anglicanism]], a Christian denomination based largely on national churches established in the CofE's tradition in [[British Empire|Britain's colonies]] and former imperial outposts. Anglicanism comprises a very broad tradition - since its foundation as an independent entity in the 16th century, different factions within the Church of England have disagreed wildly on doctrine, aesthetics and, historically, whether or not to tolerate one another. In general, the modern Church represents a very pragmatic and [[liberal]] form of [[Christianity]], with a focus on reconciling [[God]] and [[reality]]; around 2% of Anglican priests are [[atheist]]s, 16% are [[agnostic]], and one of its former leaders, [[Justin Welby]], has said he sometimes doubts the existence of God. Historically, though, the CofE was very much the conservative establishment church<ref>Traditionally characterised as "the Tory Party at prayer".</ref>, and there remain [[Evangelical]] and Anglo-[[Catholic |Papalist]] wings which resent the increasingly [[Progressive Christianity | progressive]] stance of the Church.

== Role of the Church ==

=== Actual attendance ===

In essence, nobody turns up to Church of England services—least of all self-described Anglicans. So few people show up that, in 2019, the Church binned off the official rule that every church had to offer services on Sundays.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/21/church-of-england-drops-compulsory-sunday-services-in-each-parish</ref> According to the Church's statistics, in 2017 only around 722,000 people regularly attended Sunday services, which is less than 1.3% of the English population and accounts for about 7.6% of self-described Anglicans. Though weekly attendance at Sunday services is the Anglican tradition, the Church also defines a separate statistic for the "Worshipping Community", defined as broadly as possible all people who do their best to participate in CofE-led acts of prayer at least once a month, including those who fail to attend once a month because of illness (colds and sniffles included), holidays or age; children who are made to pray at school; those who attend fellowship groups; etc. In 2017 the Worshipping Community was 1.14 million people, 2% of the English population and 12% of Anglicans.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20220513140919/https://gallery.mailchimp.com/50eac70851c7245ce1ce00c45/files/58895d08-d6e7-4dc5-b06e-3c30e38d73cf/2017StatisticsForMission_007_.pdf</ref><ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/14/attendance-church-of-england-sunday-services-falls-again</ref><ref>https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2017-12/WorshippingCommunity.pdf</ref>

=== Christmas ===

Many English people will go to CofE services around Christmas. This is actually common-ish practice among atheists, either for tradition or because of elderly Anglican relatives, and so it's no real indication that the Church continues to hold any real influence. In 2017 a respectable 2.68 million people (4.8% of the English population and 28% of Anglicans) went to church on Christmas Day, though only 33% of those actually accepted communion, suggesting that lots of those present were not exactly earnest Christians.

== History ==

=== English Reformation ===
As every older English schoolkid knows, the Church of England was initially founded when, in 1534, King Henry VIII refused to put up with the [[Pope]]'s objections to sanctioning his [[divorce]] due to Catherine's relation to the Habsburgs who controlled Spain and much of Italy.  Henry, being [[Monarchy|King]] and having the wherewithal to do so, declared the English Church to be split from the [[Roman Catholic Church]], and put himself at the head of the new church - after [[God]]/[[Jesus Christ]] of course.  Some of the emerging [[Protestant]] [[theology]] was adopted to further the division, and Henry took advantage of his new ecclesiastical leadership to forcibly close down England's [[Monasticism|monasteries]] and convents, confiscating their wealth and land.

Although popular belief holds that the church in England was Protestant from that point on this is, in fact, incorrect. Following the accession the throne of Mary I of England in 1553 the Church again returned to Roman control.  Perhaps unsurprisingly various executions followed.

It was Elizabeth I of England who made the definitive break with Rome when coming to the throne in 1558. Over the next century or so, the theology and practices of the Church shifted back and forth under various regimes, sometimes appearing Catholic but without allegiance to the [[Pope]], sometimes fairly [[Puritan]], before settling somewhere in the middle.

=== Transition to modern times ===
There is disagreement whether the CofE are Protestant, it seems they call themselves Catholic but not Roman Catholic.<ref>http://anglicancleric.blogspot.com/2007/08/anglicanism-catholic-or-protestant-last.html</ref> The Church has a minor role in the [[British]] government, with [[Bishop]]s sitting in the House of Lords and has usually backed government policy.  The so-called Lords Spiritual represent only England: other branches of the Anglican Church, other [[faith]]s, and [[freethinker]]s are not specially represented in the House of Lords. The British monarch is still formally the head of the CofE.  

For a large part of its history the CofE has been connected with maintaining the established order, that meant [[tradition]]al upper classes in charge, the middle classes in the middle and the lower orders knowing their subordinate place.  This is less true today and traditional ties between the CofE and the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] are weakening.

In recent decades, church attendance in Britain has dropped considerably and the Church of England's influence is becoming increasingly irrelevant in society, but they still have those Lords Spiritual. 

It is under something of a hostile takeover bid by the Roman Catholics, who have set up a system where Anglican parishes can convert over without having to change any of their liturgy or [[dogma]].  They simply change "Anglican" to "Catholic."  Their [[priest]]s don't even have to be [[celibate]]!<ref>Well, any new ones would, but the old ones don't.</ref> {{wpl|The Vicar of Bray}} would have been proud.

The Church of England is the established church ''only'' in England.  The CofE was disestablished in Wales in 1920, with its former dioceses being renamed as the Church in Wales (sic); the Church of Ireland was disestablished in 1871, long before the partition of [[Ireland]], and [[Scotland]] has the [[Church of Scotland]], which is in the Reformed/[[Presbyterian]] tradition rather than Anglican. (The equivalent to the CofE in Scotland, is the Episcopal Church of Scotland, which is the second, perhaps third, church tradition in Scotland.)

== The modern Church ==
[[File:Cantercross.svg|thumb|right|165px|The Canterbury Cross, a common symbol of Anglicanism.]]
{{cquote|The nice country vicar in effect inoculated vast swaths of the English against Christianity.|4=Rev. Giles Fraser<ref>Quoted in [[Richard Dawkins|Dawkins, Richard]], [http://books.google.com/books?id=yq1xDpicghkC&pg=PA41 ''The God Delusion'', p.41]</ref>}}

Unlike [[fundamentalist]] forms of [[Christianity]], Anglicanism does not demand a [[Biblical literalism|literal]] interpretation of [[Biblical]] passages such as the [[creationism|creation]], [[great flood]] and [[virgin birth]]; indeed, the Church of England has been part of efforts to oppose those who insist that one must make a choice between [[Evolution|reality]] and [[God]]. Modern Anglicans are also usually very [[tolerant]] and respectful of other Christians.  The Church of England doesn't tend to put the fear of [[Hell]] into people—all it really offers is tradition, rituals, tea, jumble sales, and cake.<ref>Or death</ref>  On balance, Anglicanism should be considered a ''mostly harmless'' (though somewhat boring) branch of Christianity.  Church attendance has been steadily declining and is now under 1 million on a typical Sunday.<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/12/church-of-england-attendance-falls-below-million-first-time Church of England weekly attendance falls below 1m for first time]</ref> 

Despite a heavy presence of stuffy, old fashioned [[conservative]] types, the Church of England has become increasingly progressive compared to many other Christian churches.  Justin Welby is the new Archbishop of Canterbury, and while he is an [[evangelical]], he is well-liked by many branches of the Church and strongly supports female bishops.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20264520 Justin Welby named as next Archbishop of Canterbury]; [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20242129 Justin Welby set to become new Archbishop of Canterbury]; [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21317752 Justin Welby: Ex-oil executive facing Church of England's 'impossible job']</ref>  

===Atheist and agnostic clergy===
Welby has even admitted to sometimes experiencing doubts over the existence of God,<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29255318 Archbishop of Canterbury admits he has doubts about God]</ref> however his views are commonplace, as Welby is not the only doubting Church of England cleric. A 2005 study suggested roughly 3% of the Church of England clergy admitted to [[Atheism#Atheist_clergy|doubting the existence of God]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140731142605/http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2697 Clergy who don't believe in God]</ref>  A more recent 2014 survey suggests 2% of Anglican clergy in [[England]], [[Wales]], and [[Scotland]] are atheists while 16% are agnostic.  Older Church of England clergy are more likely to disbelieve <ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/survey-finds-2-of-anglican-priests-are-not-believers-9821899.html Two per cent of Anglican priests don't believe in God, survey finds]</ref> It is suggested [[problem of evil|dealing with suffering parishioners]], finding [[prayer]] problematic, and other life experiences may have lead older religious leaders to question Church of England [[theology]] and teachings.<ref>[http://thehumanist.com/news/religion/can-a-priest-be-an-atheist Can a Priest Be an Atheist?]</ref>

===Child and adult sex abuse===
While not approaching the [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|horrific levels of abuse which the Catholic Church experienced]], the Church of England has had to confront the issue of child sexual abuse at the hands of its clergy, there were noteworthy cases in Sussex<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19425149 Archbishop of Canterbury condemns child abuse failings]</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23215388 Church of England makes Chichester child abuse apology]</ref> and Cumbria.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-20391434 Ex-canon of Carlisle Cathedral Ronald Johns jailed]</ref> There was also systemic failure to prevent the late Dean of Manchester {{wpl|Robert Waddington|(Robert Waddington)}} from committing mass child abuse.<ref>{{cite news|last=Batty|first=David|title=Church of England facing new child abuse allegations|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/10/church-england-child-abuse-allegations|accessdate=10 May 2013|newspaper=The Guardian|date=10 May 2013}}</ref> 

The {{wpl|Archbishop of Canterbury}} [[Justin Welby]] is allegedly working to ensure that complaints are not brushed off as has happened, files dating back to the 1950's are being examined and independent investigators are involved to a limited extent to prevent [[cover up]]s.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22498734 Inquiry into CofE cleric abuse claim set up]</ref><ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/oct/27/justin-welby-1950s-personnel-files-clergy-child-abuse-investigation-confessional-confidentiality Church of England to examine 1950s records in child abuse investigation]</ref> {{wpl|Keith Porteous Wood}} of the [[National Secular Society]] stated:
{{cquote|The problem wasn't that bishops weren't trained in such matters, it is the institutional culture of denial and the bullying of the abused and whistleblowers into silence. One report suggests that 13 bishops ignored letters written in the 1990s warning of abuse by Ball on behalf of a victim who later committed suicide. I have seen evidence that such bullying persists to this day.  I hope that the Archbishop's review into the case of Peter Ball will deal with such bullying and what appears to be the undue influence exerted on the police and CPS by the Church in dealing with this case.  The total failure of procedures, outlined by Ian Elliott, echoes that revealed in the totally damning Cahill Report about the conduct of the Archbishop Hope of York in respect of Robert Waddington. The current Archbishop of York has decided that this report should remain in printed form rather than be more widely available on the web.|||<ref>[http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2016/03/church-cut-contact-with-child-abuse-victim-on-order-of-insurers Church cut contact with child abuse victim on order of insurers]</ref>}}
{{wpl|Peter Ball (bishop)}} has served a prison sentence for serious sex abuse against young adult men.  There are allegations of serious earlier cover up's involving then Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey and many other British establishment figures which prevented Ball's earlier prosecution.  Ball served just a year and a half in prison for a decade and a half of abuse.  One of Ball's victims committed suicide and others claim lasting harm.  Abuse survivor, Graham Sawyer, claimed he and others were treated with contempt. Sawyer said, “The church continues to use highly aggressive legal firms to bully, frighten and discredit victims … In my own case, I continue to endure cruel and sadistic treatment by the very highest levels of the church”.<ref>[https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2017/06/26/sexual-abuse-coverup-by-anglican-church-includes-the-former-archbishop-of-canterbury/ Sexual abuse coverup by Anglican Church includes the former Archbishop of Canterbury]</ref>

===Women in the clergy===
Since the days of suffragettes in the early 20th century, women have militated for the right to serve the Church in all capacities; this movement gained momentum in the 1960's.   The Church allowed women to become ordained deaconesses in the 1980s; since 1992, the Church has accepted women as priests. A long-delayed and divisive vote on female [[bishop]]s took place in November 2012 with below two-thirds majority in the House of Laity.  A year later, the Church's governing body voted overwhelmingly to allow women to become ordained as bishops, joining their counterparts in [[Wales]], [[Scotland]] and [[Northern Ireland]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131124091732/http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/20/21551561-church-of-england-votes-in-favor-of-female-bishops Church of England Votes in Favor of Female Bishops, NBC News, 20 November 2013]</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-24064398 Church in Wales backs women bishops]</ref> In July 2014, the General Synod of the Church of England voted to allow women bishops. Dissenting parishes can insist on a man to govern them and there will be an independent arbitrator. [[Justin Welby]] claims women bishops are [[theology|theologically]] acceptable and the primary duty of the CofE is to stay together connected to current society.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28304168 Justin Welby: Women bishops vote 'based on theology']</ref> Libby Lane was consecrated as bishop of Stockport in January 2015, and became the first woman bishop in the Church of England.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30510137 First female bishop named as the Reverend Libby Lane]</ref><ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/17/first-female-bishop-named-libby-lane-church-of-england-women Church of England's first female bishop named as Libby Lane][http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30974547 Libby Lane: First female bishop to be consecrated]</ref><ref>Not all Anglicans are comfortable with women's ordination and small numbers have left to join the [[Roman Catholic Church]] over the issue, such as former Tory MP {{wpl|Ann Widdecombe}} and others.
See [http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jan/15/anglican-bishops-ordained-catholic-priests History overturned as Anglican bishops are ordained as Catholic priests].</ref>

===Official positions on social and political issues===
[[File:Canterbury Cathedral - Portal Nave Cross-spire.jpeg|thumb|right|300px|Canterbury Cathedral.]]
*Evolution – In 2010, the CofE officially stated that not only is evolution compatible with Christianity, it is a disservice to both [[science]] at large, and scientists who are Christian, to [[Denialism|deny]] the facts and findings of science.
*[[Homosexuality]] – The Church allows that homosexuality "in and of itself is no bar to faithful Christian life", but at the same time "sexual activities outside of the bonds of marriage are a sin", and that [[marriage]] is as defined, one man and one woman. The upshot? It's fine to be gay, as long as you are [[celibate]]. The Church was one of the most vocal groups in opposition to government plans to introduce [[same-sex marriage]] in the UK,<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2012/jun/12/church-of-england-gay-marriage Church of England Gay Marriage]</ref> as it would [[irony|dilute the sanctity of marriage]]. Informal [[prayer]] for a gay couple is allowed provided there is pastoral discussion why the couple go against church teaching.<ref name=BBC15/2/14>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26206192 Gay couple blessings ruled out by Church of England bishops]</ref>
*Gay men as clergymen – Some homosexuals have also been accepted as clergy in Anglican churches outside England, including Bishop Gene Robinson in the [[New Hampshire]] diocese of the Episcopal Church. These moves have been met with strong opposition from many traditionalists. Some of the more [[homophobic]] branches of the Anglican church refuse to stay in [[communion]] with those branches that are "open and affirming". In England, gay men in [[civil partnership]]s can serve as CofE priests and bishops provided they make an unenforceable promise to remain celibate.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20918806 Mixed response to CofE decision to allow gay bishops]</ref> Ordained [[Religious leaders#Christianity|deacons, priests and Bishops]] may not enter same sex marriage and people in same sex marriage may not be ordained.<ref name=BBC15/2/14/>
*[[Divorce]] – Ideally, the CofE believes that [[marriage]] should last a lifetime, but divorce sometimes happens for varied and painful reasons. Vicars have discretion to allow divorcees to remarry in church and failing that a service following a civil wedding is possible.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110205105525/http://www.churchofengland.org/our-views/marriage,-family-and-sexuality-issues/divorce.aspx What is the Church's teaching on divorce?][https://web.archive.org/web/20081012235818/http://www.yourchurchwedding.org/youre-welcome/marriage-after-divorce.aspx Marriage after divorce]</ref> It is also not exactly helpful that [[Charles III|the head of the Church]] has divorced ''and'' remarried - with a divorcée, or that the CofE was founded specifically to condone a divorce that the Pope had refused.
*Involvement in War – The Church of England also broke with historical tradition by opposing [[United Kingdom|UK]] involvement in the recent [[war]]s in [[Afghanistan]] and [[Iraq]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Church issues prayer against Iraq war|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2624319.stm|work=BBC NEWS|accessdate=4 June 2015|location=England|date=3 January 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Hall|first1=Sarah|title=Blair acted like a 'white vigilante' by invading Iraq, says bishop|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/dec/30/iraq.religion|accessdate=4 June 2015|work=The Grauniad|date=30 December 2003}}</ref> as well as subsequent governmental policies on the [[Middle East]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Townsend|first1=Mark|title=Church launches bitter attack on PM's 'incoherent' Middle East policy|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/16/church-of-england-attack-david-cameron-middle-east-policy|accessdate=4 June 2015|work=The Observer|date=16 August 2014}}</ref>
*[[Poverty]] – Unlike the American [[Religious Right]], the Church of England speaks up "for the poor and the marginalized," but relatively few listen.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20252251 Analysis: new Archbishop's challenge]</ref> The CofE was accused of failing the poorest citizens; examples include selling social housing to the highest bidder while homelessness increases<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/oct/16/church-failing-poorest-citizens The church is failing our poorest citizens]</ref> and betraying [[London]] protestors from the [[Occupy Wall Street|Occupy Movement]] by permitting the police to remove protestors from St Paul's Cathedral.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/feb/28/occupy-london-accuse-st-pauls-betrayal Occupy London protesters accuse St Paul's of betrayal]</ref> [[Justin Welby]], the Archbishop of Canterbury also wanted church based credit unions to out compete loan companies, notably ''Wonga'' though he acknowledged that would take decades. Welby was not promoting legislation which would protect victims of loan sharks much sooner.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/war-on-wonga-were-putting-you-out-of-business-archbishop-of-canterbury-justin-welby-tells-payday-loans-company-8730839.html War on Wonga: We're putting you out of business, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tells payday loans company]</ref> A week later, it was discovered that the Church had invested in ''Wonga'' – and the stake had not been sold about six months later because the Church wanted to avoid losing money on the payday loans.<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/dec/31/archbishop-justin-welby-admits-wonga-stake-still-in-place Archbishop Justin Welby admits Wonga stake has not been sold]</ref> Actions speak louder than words.

==See also==
*[[Christianity]]
*[[England]]
*[[Separation of church and state]]
*[[George Carey]], the last but one Archbishop of Canterbury

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
[[Category:Christian denominations]]

Categories: Christian denominations