Church of England facts for kids
The Church of England (often called the C of E) is the main Christian church in England. People who follow this church are called Anglicans.
Since the time of the English Reformation, the Church of England has used the English language for its church services. The British monarch (right now, Charles III) is the church's special leader, called the Supreme Governor. The Archbishop of Canterbury (currently Justin Welby) is the most important church leader.
The church is organized into areas called dioceses. Each diocese has a bishop who leads it. Inside each diocese are smaller local areas called parishes, which have their own churches. The General Synod of the Church of England is like the church's parliament. It includes bishops, other church leaders, and regular church members. Any new rules or changes from the Synod must be approved by the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
Quick facts for kids Church of England |
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| Abbreviation | C of E |
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Anglican |
| Theology | Anglican doctrine |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Supreme governor | Charles III |
| Primate | Justin Welby |
| Associations | Anglican Communion Porvoo Communion World Council of Churches |
| Region | England, Wales (cross-border parishes) Isle of Man Channel Islands Continental Europe Morocco |
| Headquarters | Church House, Westminster, England |
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| Separated from | Roman Catholic Church (1534) |
| Separations | English Dissenters (1534 onwards) Puritans (17th century) Methodists (18th century) Plymouth Brethren (1820s) Free Church of England (1844) Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham (2011) |
| Members | 26 million (baptised) |
| Other name(s) | Anglican Church |
How the Church of England Started
The Church of England was formed by King Henry VIII in 1534. King Henry VIII was married to Catherine of Aragon. He wanted to end his marriage because he hoped to have a son to take over his throne, and Catherine had not given him one.
When the Pope (the leader of the Roman Catholic Church) would not let him end his marriage, Henry VIII decided to break away. He used his power as King to separate the church in England from the Roman Catholic Church. This is how the Church of England, also known as the Anglican Church, began.
Changes Over Time
After King Henry VIII, his son, King Edward VI, became king. During his rule, the church adopted more Protestant ways of worship. Thomas Cranmer, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury, helped make many of these changes.
A new way of doing church services was written down in the Book of Common Prayer (in 1549 and 1552). These books were based on older church traditions but were changed to fit Protestant ideas. Later, in the 18th century, a group called Methodism separated from the Church of England. In the 19th century, a movement called the Oxford Movement brought some Catholic beliefs back into the church.
See Also
Images for kids
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Hereford Cathedral is one of the church's 43 cathedrals; many have histories stretching back centuries
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Thomas Cranmer was the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury and principal compiler of the Book of Common Prayer
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Major repairs were done to Canterbury Cathedral after the Restoration in 1660.
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Captain John Smith's 1624 map of Bermuda, showing St Peter's at centre, left
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Richard Hooker (1554–1600), one of the most influential figures in shaping Anglican theology and self-identity
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Canterbury Cathedral houses the cathedra or episcopal chair of the Archbishop of Canterbury and is the cathedral of the Diocese of Canterbury and the mother church of the Church of England as well as a focus for the Anglican Communion
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Stained glass window in Rochester Cathedral, Kent
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The parish church of St Lawrence in Toot Baldon is typical of many small English village churches
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Map showing the Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe with the archdeaconries colour-coded
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See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Inglaterra para niños
