Church of England facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of England |
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| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Anglican |
| Scripture | Protestant Bible |
| Theology | Anglican doctrine |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Supreme Governor | Charles III |
| Primate | Sarah Mullally |
| Fellowships |
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| Associations | Anglican Communion Porvoo Communion World Council of Churches |
| Region | England, Wales (cross-border parishes) Isle of Man Channel Islands Continental Europe |
| Headquarters | Church House, Westminster, England |
| Founder |
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| Separated from | Roman Catholic Church (1534, and again in 1558 after the brief 1554 reunion) |
| Separations |
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| Members | 26 million (baptised; self-reported in 2024); 23 million (baptised; World Christian Database in 2020) |
| Other name(s) | Anglican Church |
The Church of England, also known as C of E or CoE, is the official Christian church in England and some nearby islands. It is the original church of the Anglican tradition. The church's story goes back to early Christian communities in Britain during Roman times, and to a special mission in the 6th century led by Augustine of Canterbury. People who belong to this church are called Anglicans.
A big change happened in 1534 when King Henry VIII decided the Church of England would no longer be under the authority of the Pope. This started the English Reformation. A key figure in shaping the church's beliefs was Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, who created the Book of Common Prayer, a special book for church services. After a brief return to papal authority under Queen Mary I, Queen Elizabeth I brought back the separation. The church then found a middle path, blending ideas from different Protestant groups while keeping some older Catholic traditions.
Over the centuries, the Church of England has used the English language in its services. It includes different ways of practicing faith, from those who like more traditional ceremonies (Anglo-Catholic) to those who focus more on Bible teachings (evangelical). The British monarch (currently King Charles III) is the church's Supreme Governor. The archbishop of Canterbury (currently Sarah Mullally) is the most senior leader. The church is organized into areas called dioceses, each led by a bishop. The General Synod of the Church of England is the church's main decision-making body.
Contents
Exploring the Church's Past
Early Beginnings in England
Christianity was present in Britain as early as the 3rd century. After the Roman Empire ended, England was settled by the Anglo-Saxons, who followed pagan religions. In 597, Pope Gregory I sent missionaries, led by Augustine of Canterbury, to bring Christianity to the Anglo-Saxons. Augustine became the first archbishop of Canterbury, and this year is often seen as the start of the Church of England's formal history.
Later, there were some disagreements between Celtic Christian traditions and Roman traditions, especially about the date of Easter. In 664, King Oswiu of Northumbria held the Synod of Whitby to decide. He chose to follow the Roman tradition.
Before the Reformation, the Catholic Church was a very important part of English life. Churches were everywhere, and people believed that God's grace came through special ceremonies called sacraments. Priests led services, including the Mass, where bread and wine were believed to become the body and blood of Christ.
The English Reformation: A Time of Change
In 1527, King Henry VIII wanted to end his marriage to Catherine of Aragon to have a male heir. When the Pope refused, Henry used the English Parliament to take control of the church in England. In 1534, Parliament passed a law that made Henry the head of the Church of England, separating it from the Pope's authority.
Even though Henry VIII kept many traditional Catholic beliefs, he worked with Protestants to secure his power over the church. Protestants believed that people were saved by faith alone, not by good deeds. This idea led to changes in how people worshipped.
Between 1536 and 1540, Henry closed down many monasteries, which were religious houses for monks and nuns. He took their wealth and land, selling it to fund wars. This was a huge change for England.
During the reign of Henry's son, Edward VI (1547–1553), the Church of England became more Protestant. Images and statues in churches were removed or destroyed. The biggest change was using English for church services instead of Latin. Archbishop Thomas Cranmer wrote the first Book of Common Prayer in 1549, which changed how services were held and what was taught.
When Mary I became queen (1553–1558), England briefly rejoined the Catholic Church. But after she died, her half-sister Queen Elizabeth I became queen. She brought back the Church of England's independence from Rome. In 1558, she became the church's Supreme Governor of the Church of England. The 1552 Book of Common Prayer was restored with some small changes. The Thirty-nine Articles, a set of statements about the church's beliefs, were also approved. These changes made the Church of England Protestant, but with its own unique style.
Challenges and Changes in the Stuart Era
Disagreements about the church continued during the reigns of King James I and King Charles I. Some people, called Puritans, wanted to make the church even more Protestant. Others wanted to keep more traditional practices. These disagreements contributed to the First English Civil War in 1642.
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After the Royalists lost the war, bishops were removed, and the Book of Common Prayer was banned. However, when the monarchy was restored in 1660, the Church of England returned to a similar form as it had under Elizabeth I. This period also saw the rise of other Protestant groups, known as Nonconformists, who worshipped outside the official Church of England.
Spreading Across the Globe
As the British Empire grew, English settlers and administrators took the Church of England's practices and clergy with them. This led to the creation of Anglican churches in many parts of the world.
For example, the first Church of England area outside England and Wales was the Diocese of Nova Scotia, created in 1787. In Bermuda, services began in the early 1600s, and the Anglican Church of Bermuda later became its own diocese. The church also grew in places like Canada, India, Nigeria, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka. Many of these churches later became independent but remained connected to the Church of England through the Anglican Communion, a worldwide family of Anglican churches.
The Church in Modern Times
The COVID-19 pandemic had a big impact on church attendance in 2020 and 2021. While numbers were still lower than before the pandemic in 2022, attendance at special services like baptisms and marriages saw increases, partly due to postponed events. Overall, the church has seen a decline in regular attendance compared to pre-pandemic times.
| Estimated change, 2019 to 2020 | Estimated change, 2019 to 2021 | Estimated change, 2019 to 2022 | Estimated change, 2019 to 2023 | Estimated change, 2019 to 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worshipping community | −7% | −13% | −12% | -10% | -9.4% |
| All-age average weekly attendance (October) | −60% | −29% | −23% | -20% | -19% |
| All-age average Sunday attendance (October) | −53% | −28% | −23% | -20% | -19% |
| Easter attendance | N/A | −56% | −27% | -20% | -19% |
| Christmas attendance | −79% | −58% | −30% | -16% | -20% |
What the Church Believes and Practices
The Church of England's beliefs are based on the Christian scriptures. They also draw from the teachings of early Christian leaders and important church meetings, as long as these agree with the Bible. Key documents that explain these beliefs are the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Ordinal (which describes how clergy are appointed).
The Church of England sees itself as both Reformed (like other Protestant churches) and Catholic (keeping some ancient traditions). It believes the Bible contains everything needed for salvation. The church also has three types of ministers: bishops, priests, and deacons.
There is a wide range of opinions within the Church of England, from those who are more traditional to those who are more open to new ideas. This allows different groups to exist side-by-side.
Worship and Services
The Church of England uses the King James Version of the Bible, published in 1611. Its main service book is the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. Since 2000, a more modern book called Common Worship can also be used, offering different styles of services.
The church celebrates two main sacraments: baptism and the eucharist (also known as Holy Communion). Babies are often baptized, and later, when they are older, they can be confirmed by a bishop. The eucharist is a special meal where Christians remember Jesus' sacrifice.
Hymns and music are a big part of Church of England worship. Many cathedrals have traditional Choral Evensong services. In recent times, some churches have adopted more modern worship styles with contemporary music.
In 2023, the Church of England started a project to study how God is referred to in church services, looking at "gendered language" to ensure inclusivity.
Women's Roles in the Church
Women have played an increasing role in the Church of England. From 1861, women could be deaconesses, and later, they served as lay readers. In 1987, women were first ordained as deacons.
A major step was taken in 1994 when women began to be ordained as priests. In 2010, more women than men were ordained as priests for the first time. The church also approved the consecration of women as bishops. In January 2015, Libby Lane became the first woman bishop in the Church of England. In May 2018, Dame Sarah Mullally became the first woman to serve as the Bishop of London, a very senior position. In October 2025, Dame Sarah Mullally was named as the next Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman to hold this historic role.
Inclusion and Relationships
The Church of England believes that marriage is a lifelong union between a man and a woman. However, the church is also discussing how to be more welcoming and inclusive of all people. In February 2023, the church approved prayers of blessing for same-sex couples who have had a civil marriage or civil partnership. These "Prayers of Love and Faith" can be used during regular church services. In November 2023, the General Synod voted to allow "standalone" blessings for same-sex couples on a trial basis.
Important Life Questions
The Church of England generally believes in supporting people through illness and old age, and does not support changing laws to allow assisted dying.
Helping Communities: Social Work
The Church Urban Fund
The Church of England created the Church Urban Fund in the 1980s to help fight poverty and hardship. This organization works to support individuals and communities facing challenges like homelessness, hunger, and mental health problems. They believe that poverty can trap people and make it hard for them to improve their lives.
Fighting Child Poverty
The Church Urban Fund highlights that many babies born in poorer areas have fewer opportunities and a lower life expectancy. They work to raise awareness and encourage communities to support those born into poverty.
Action Against Hunger
Many leaders in the Church of England have spoken out against poverty and cuts to welfare support. They have urged the government to ensure that everyone has enough to eat. The church has also campaigned against the need for food banks, calling it "truly shocking" that so many people in the UK rely on them.
Who Belongs to the Church?
In 2024, the Church of England reported having about 26 million baptized members, which is nearly half of England's population. However, the number of people who regularly attend church services is much smaller.
Because it is the official church, anyone living in England can usually have their children baptized, get married, or have a funeral service in their local parish church, even if they don't attend regularly. Millions of people attend special services, especially during Christmas.
Church attendance in the UK has generally declined over many years. For example, weekly attendance in 2022 was around 654,000 people, a noticeable drop from previous years.
| Category | 2001 | 2006 | 2011 | 2016 | 2022 |
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| Worshipping Community | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1,138,800 | 984,000 |
| All Age Weekly Attendance | 1,205,000 | 1,163,000 | 1,050,300 | 927,300 | 654,000 |
| All Age Sunday Attendance | 1,041,000 | 983,000 | 858,400 | 779,800 | 547,000 |
| Easter Attendance | 1,593,000 | 1,485,000 | 1,378,200 | 1,222,700 | 861,000 |
| Christmas Attendance | 2,608,000 | 2,994,000 | 2,641,500 | 2,580,000 | 1,622,000 |
People Who Serve the Church
In 2020, there were almost 20,000 active clergy (ministers) serving in the Church of England. This included about 7,200 retired clergy who still helped out. In that year, 580 new clergy were ordained. By 2020, about 33% of all ordained ministers were women, which was an increase from previous years.
In June 2025, there were 17,885 active clergy. This number included paid ministers, self-supporting ministers, and others like chaplains or retired clergy who still officiated.
How the Church is Organized
The Church of England believes it is a community of faithful people where God's word is taught, and sacraments are properly given.
The British monarch, King Charles III, holds the title of Supreme Governor of the Church of England. This means he is the highest authority in the church under God, working with Parliament and the Prime Minister.
The Church of England also has authority in the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, and some parishes in Wales. Churches in continental Europe are part of the Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe.
The church is organized in different levels:
- Parish: This is the local church community, often with one church building. A parish is led by a priest, who might be called a vicar or rector. The priest works with a local council of church members to run the parish.
- Deanery: This is a group of several parishes in a specific area, led by a Rural Dean.
- Archdeaconry: This is a larger area that includes several deaneries, overseen by an archdeacon.
- Diocese: This is a large region led by a bishop and has a main church called a cathedral. Bishops work with an elected group of clergy and church members to manage the diocese.
- Province: The Church of England has two provinces: Canterbury and York. Each is led by an archbishop.
- Primacy: The Archbishop of Canterbury is the "Primate of All England" and is the main leader for the entire Church of England. He is also a central figure for the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Archbishop of York is the "Primate of England" and leads the northern province.
Clergy members are appointed by various people or groups, but they must promise loyalty to the King and obedience to their bishop.
Leading Bishops
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The most senior bishop in the Church of England is the Archbishop of Canterbury, who leads the southern province of England. As of January 2025, Sarah Mullally became the Archbishop of Canterbury, making her the first woman to hold this position. She is also a key leader for the global Anglican Communion.
The second most senior bishop is the Archbishop of York, who leads the northern province. Stephen Cottrell became Archbishop of York in 2020. Other important bishops include the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Durham, and the Bishop of Winchester, who automatically have seats in the House of Lords.
Making Decisions for the Church
The Church of England has a special law-making body called the General Synod. This group can create "measures" (which must be approved by the British Parliament) and "canons" (which are church laws). This ensures that the church's rules are both legally sound and reflect its beliefs.
Bishops in Parliament
Of the 42 diocesan bishops in the Church of England, 26 are allowed to sit in the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament. These bishops are known as Lords Spiritual. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, along with the bishops of London, Durham, and Winchester, always have seats. Other bishops join based on how long they have served.
Church in Other British Territories
The Church of England is also the official church in the Crown Dependencies of the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey). Each of these places has its own bishop or dean who plays a role in their local governments.
How the Church is Funded
The Church of England does not receive money directly from the government, except for some help with building repairs. Its main income comes from donations from its members and from investments it manages. In 2005, the church spent around £900 million.
The Church of England manages a large investment portfolio worth over £8 billion.
Finding Churches Online
The Church of England runs A Church Near You, an online directory that lists more than 16,000 churches. This website helps people find their local church and provides resources for churches.
The Church Heritage Record is another online tool that has information about over 16,000 church buildings. It includes details about their history, architecture, and art. This helps people learn about these important historical places.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Inglaterra para niños
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