Church of Ireland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids  Church of Ireland |
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| Eaglais na hÉireann (Irish) Kirk o Airlann (Ulster Scots) |
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Holmpatrick St Patrick Church in Skerries, County Dublin
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| Type | Communion |
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Anglican |
| Scripture | Bible |
| Theology | Anglican doctrine |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Primates | Archbishop of Armagh – John McDowell Archbishop of Dublin – Michael Jackson |
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| Region | Ireland |
| Language | English, Irish |
| Headquarters | Church of Ireland House Church Avenue Rathmines Dublin D06 CF67 Ireland |
| Independence | 1871 (disestablishment) |
| Separated from | Roman Catholic Church in 1536 |
| Branched from | Theologically: Church of England |
| Congregations | 1100 places of worship 450 parishes |
| Members | 343,400 |
The Church of Ireland (Irish: Eaglais na hÉireann, Ulster-Scots: Kirk o Airlann) is a Christian church in Ireland. It is an independent part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. This church covers all of Ireland and is the second-largest Christian church on the island, after the Roman Catholic Church.
Like other Anglican churches, the Church of Ireland keeps some older traditions from before the Reformation. For example, it has a system of bishops. However, it does not accept the authority of the Pope. The church sees itself as both "Reformed" (meaning it changed during the Reformation) and "Catholic" (meaning it follows a continuous Christian tradition since the early days of Celtic Christianity in Ireland).
Contents
About the Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland believes it is the part of the Irish Church that was shaped by the Reformation. It traces its roots back to the early Celtic Church of St Patrick. This means it is both "catholic" because it continues an old tradition of faith, and "protestant" because it does not follow the Pope and accepted changes in its beliefs and worship during the Reformation.
In the 12th century, the Irish Church changed from being mainly run by monasteries to being organised into dioceses and parishes. Many of today's church areas come from decisions made at meetings like the Synod of Ráth Breasail in 1111 and the Synod of Kells in 1152.
Some historians believe that early Irish Christianity was mostly separate from Rome. This allowed both the Church of Ireland and the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland to say they came from Saint Patrick.
In 1534, Henry VIII broke away from the Pope and became the head of the Church of England. Two years later, the Irish Parliament did the same, making him head of the Irish church. Even though many bishops and clergy did not agree, the new Church of Ireland kept the church buildings and lands. Most Irish people, however, stayed loyal to the Church of Rome. In Ulster, the church was also smaller than the Presbyterian church. The Church of Ireland was the official state church of all Ireland until 1871, when it was no longer supported by the government.
Today, the Church of Ireland is the second largest religious group in the Republic of Ireland. It is the third largest in Northern Ireland, after the Roman Catholic and Presbyterian churches.
History of the Church
How the Church Formed
Christianity came to Ireland around the mid-to-late 400s AD, thanks to Saint Patrick. Before the 12th century, the Irish church was not controlled by the Pope. Instead, it was run by powerful monasteries.
In 1155, Pope Adrian IV claimed Ireland as a papal territory and gave Henry II of England the right to rule it. This claim was based on an old document called the Donation of Constantine, which was later found to be fake.
In 1536, the Irish Parliament agreed to make Henry VIII of England the head of the church in Ireland, just like in England. This event is seen as the start of the reformed Church of Ireland. The church grew under Edward VI, but then Mary I brought Catholicism back in 1553.
When Elizabeth I of England became queen in 1558, she brought back the reformed church. Many clergy had to be replaced because they did not accept her changes. It was hard to find enough Irish-speaking ministers. The New Testament was translated into Irish in 1602, and the Book of Common Prayer in 1606.
The 1600s
At the start of the 17th century, most native Irish people were Catholic. Protestant settlers in Ulster started their own Presbyterian church. A key figure for the Church of Ireland was James Ussher, who became Archbishop of Armagh in 1625. In 1615, the Church of Ireland created its own statement of faith, which was similar to the English one.
During the Irish Confederate Wars (1641–1653), much of Ireland was controlled by Catholics. The church was re-established after Charles II became king again in 1660. Laws were made against other Christian groups, but they were not always strictly followed.
In 1685, the Catholic James II became king. His actions seemed to attack the established Protestant church. This led to the Glorious Revolution in 1688, where James was replaced by his Protestant daughter Mary II and her husband William III. Church ministers had to swear loyalty to the new rulers. A few refused, leading to the Non-Juring schism. After the war ended in 1691, the Church of Ireland gained more control.
The 1700s
In 1704, the Test Act was extended to Ireland. This law meant that only members of the Church of Ireland could hold public office. This rule stayed until 1829. However, many Catholics found ways around these rules.
Less than 15-20% of the Irish population were members of the Church of Ireland. It was a minority church, facing pressure from both Catholics and other Protestants. The 1719 Toleration Act gave other Protestants freedom to worship.
Over time, religious differences became less important than a growing sense of Irish independence. After 1750, the government started to see giving rights to Catholics as a way to reduce the power of Protestant groups who wanted more independence for Ireland. This movement ended after the 1798 Rebellion.
The 1800s and 1900s
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After Ireland joined with Great Britain in 1801, the Church of Ireland joined with the Church of England to form the United Church of England and Ireland. Irish bishops were given seats in the British Parliament.
The Irish Church had too many bishops for its size. The Church Temporalities (Ireland) Act 1833 reduced the number of bishops and made financial changes. This caused big political disagreements.
Another problem was that everyone in Ireland had to pay tithes (a church tax) to the Church of Ireland, even if they were not members. This led to the "Tithe War" (1831–36). These tithes were finally removed by the Irish Church Act 1869. This Act also ended the Church's status as a state organisation. Its bishops were removed from Parliament, and its property was given to the government. This made it hard for parishes to get money at first.
How the Church is Run
The main leader of the Church of Ireland is the Archbishop of Armagh. In 1870, before it was no longer a state church, the Church set up its own way of governing itself. It is led by a General Synod and supported by a Representative Church Body. Even though Ireland was divided in the 1920s, the Church of Ireland still operates across the whole island.
Church Structure
The Church of Ireland is run by bishops, like other Anglican churches. It has a traditional structure of local parishes grouped into dioceses. Historically, there were over 30 dioceses, but today there are eleven dioceses. These are part of two larger areas called provinces.
The leader of the southern province is the Archbishop of Dublin. The leader of the northern province is the Archbishop of Armagh. The Archbishop of Armagh is seen as the overall leader and spokesperson for the church.
General Synod and Decisions
Important matters like beliefs, church laws, and how the church is run are decided by the church's general synod. The general synod has two parts: the House of Bishops and the House of Representatives. The House of Bishops includes all 10 bishops and 2 archbishops. The House of Representatives has clergy (church leaders) and laity (regular church members). The clergy have one-third of the seats, and the laity have two-thirds. These members are chosen every three years. The general synod meets once a year.
To change church policy, a simple majority vote is needed from both Houses. To change core beliefs, like allowing women to be priests, a two-thirds majority is needed from both Houses.
Representative Church Body
The Representative Church Body (RCB) manages the church's money and property. This includes church buildings, cemeteries, and investments. The RCB members are the bishops, plus delegates from each diocese, and twelve other chosen members. They meet at least four times a year.
Church Roles
The Church of Ireland has three main roles for its ministers: deacons, priests (also called presbyters), and bishops. These are different from specific jobs like rector or vicar.
Local Church Governance
Each diocese is led by its bishop. The bishop might have helpers called Archdeacons and Rural Deans. Each diocese has its own local meeting called a diocesan synod. This synod includes the bishop, clergy, and lay members from the parishes. They oversee how the diocese works.
Each local parish has a main minister, helped by two churchwardens. One warden is chosen by the minister, and the other is voted for by the church members. All adult members of the parish meet once a year at the Easter Vestry. There is also a smaller group called the select vestry that helps manage the parish and its church buildings.
Special rules apply to the management of five main cathedrals in Dublin, Armagh, Down, and Belfast.
The Church Today
Membership Numbers
The Church of Ireland's membership has decreased over the 20th century. About 65% of its members live in Northern Ireland. It is still the second-largest church in the Republic of Ireland, with about 126,414 members in 2016. It is the third-largest in Northern Ireland, with around 260,000 members. In 2013, the church reported that about 58,257 people attended services on an average Sunday.
Cathedrals
The Church of Ireland has two cathedrals in Dublin: Christ Church Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral. St. Patrick's Cathedral was named the National Cathedral for Ireland in 1870. Other dioceses also have their own cathedrals.
The main cathedral for all of Ireland is St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh. This is the main church for the Archbishop of Armagh, John McDowell.
Training and Education
The church's main offices are in Rathmines, Dublin. The church library is in Churchtown. Teachers for church schools are now trained at Dublin City University. The church also has a seminary, the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, in Rathgar, Dublin, where future priests are trained.
Part of the Anglican Communion
The Church of Ireland is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. All Anglican churches are connected by shared beliefs and loyalty. The Archbishop of Canterbury is a special leader who helps unite the Anglican Communion. He calls important meetings like the Lambeth Conference.
The Church of Ireland is generally considered to be on the "Low Church" side of Anglicanism. This means it tends to have simpler worship services. It was one of the first Anglican churches to allow women to become priests in 1991.
GAFCON Movement
Some members of the Church of Ireland are involved with the GAFCON movement. This movement aims to keep Anglican churches faithful to traditional biblical teachings. While some bishops and clergy from the Church of Ireland have attended GAFCON meetings, the Church of Ireland itself is not an official member of GAFCON.
Working with Other Churches
Like many other Anglican churches, the Church of Ireland works with many other Christian groups. It is a member of the World Council of Churches, the Conference of European Churches, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, and the Irish Council of Churches. It is also part of the Porvoo Communion, which connects it with other Lutheran and Anglican churches in Europe.
Flags
In 1999, the church decided that only St Patrick's flag and the Flag of the Anglican Communion should be flown on church property. However, the Union Flag is still flown on many churches in Northern Ireland.
Publications
The church has an official website. It also has a newspaper called The Church of Ireland Gazette, which is independent but supported by the church. Many local parishes also create their own newsletters and websites.
Beliefs and Practices
The main teaching of the Church of Ireland is about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here are some basic beliefs:
- They believe Jesus Christ is both fully human and fully God. He died and came back to life.
- Jesus offers a way to eternal life for those who believe in him.
- The Bible (Old and New Testaments) was written by people inspired by the Holy Spirit. Other books, like the Apocrypha, can be read but are not used to decide core beliefs.
- The two most important sacraments are Baptism and the Eucharist (also called Holy Communion).
- Other important church practices, sometimes called sacraments, include confirmation, ordination, marriage, confession, and unction (anointing the sick).
- They believe in heaven, hell, and Jesus's return.
A famous Anglican thinker, Richard Hooker, suggested that Anglicans use three sources for their beliefs: the Bible (scripture), church traditions, and reason. The Bible is the most important, and tradition and reason help understand things that are not clear in the Bible.
Modern Debates
Women in Ministry
In recent years, the Church of Ireland has allowed women to serve in all church roles. In 1984, women could become deacons. In 1990, the first women were ordained as priests. In 2013, the church appointed its first female bishop, Pat Storey.
Same-Sex Relationships
The Church of Ireland's rules define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. It does not perform same-sex marriages. However, the church has supported the legal right for same-sex couples to have a civil marriage.
Irish Language in Worship
The first translation of the Book of Common Prayer into Irish was published in 1606. A later version was printed in 1712.
The Church of Ireland has a group called Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise (Irish Guild of the Church). This group was started in 1914 to promote the Irish language and Gaelic culture within the church. It holds services in Irish twice a month.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Irlanda para niños
- Anglo-Irish
- Church of England
- Scottish Episcopal Church
- Episcopal Church (United States)
- Church in Wales
- Bishops' Selection Conference
- Protestantism in Ireland
- Religion in Northern Ireland
- Religion in the Republic of Ireland
