Church Association facts for kids
The Church Association was an English group started in 1865. It was made up of evangelical Anglicans. These are Christians who follow the teachings of the Church of England and focus on the Bible. The group strongly disagreed with some ideas that were becoming popular in the Church of England at the time.
They were against Anglo-Catholicism, which was a movement that brought back some older traditions and practices similar to the Roman Catholic Church. They also opposed "ritualism," which meant using more ceremonies and special clothing during church services. Another movement they didn't like was the Oxford Movement, which also aimed to bring back some older church traditions.
The Church Association was founded in 1865 by Richard Paul Blakeney. Their main goal was to protect the beliefs and ways of the United Church of England and Ireland. They wanted to stop any changes that would make the Church of England too much like the Church of Rome (the Catholic Church).
Contents
Why the Church Association Was Formed
The Church Association believed it was important to keep the Church of England true to its original ideas. They felt that some new movements were changing the church too much. They wanted to make sure the Church of England remained separate from the Roman Catholic Church.
Their Main Goals
The group had clear goals from the start. They wanted to:
- Support the main beliefs of the Church of England.
- Keep the church services and traditions as they were.
- Stop efforts to make the Church of England's services similar to those of the Catholic Church.
Taking Legal Action
The Church Association did many things to share their views. They published books and leaflets, like their Church Association Tracts. They also held many public meetings to talk about their concerns.
However, they also took a more unusual step. They started legal cases against some Anglo-Catholics. They used a law called the Public Worship Regulation Act 1874. For example, they took legal action against people like Sidney Faithorn Green and Richard William Enraght.
Why They Sued
The association said they took people to court to make the law clearer. They wanted to know exactly what was allowed and not allowed in church services. However, the people they sued often did not follow the court's decisions. Also, the church leaders (bishops) were not always willing to get involved. Because of these problems, the Church Association eventually stopped taking legal action.
Important Members
Many people worked hard for the Church Association. One key person was Reverend Thomas Henry Sparshott. He was an important organiser for the group from 1881 until about 1899. He also worked as a speaker from 1893. Reverend Sparshott travelled around England, giving talks and sermons to share the association's message.
Joining Forces: The Church Society
Over time, the Church Association continued its work. In 1950, it decided to join with another similar group. This group was called the National Church League. When they merged, they formed a new organisation. This new group is known today as the Church Society.
