Oxford Movement facts for kids

The Oxford Movement was a religious group within the Church of England. It started in 1833 at the University of Oxford in England. People in this movement were sometimes called 'Tractarians'. This name came from a series of writings called Tracts for the Times. These writings explained their ideas. The movement wanted to bring back some older Catholic traditions and ways of worship into the Church of England. They believed the Anglican Church was directly connected to the early Christian Church, founded by Saint Peter and the other Apostles.

Leaders of the Movement

Two very important leaders of the Oxford Movement were John Henry Newman and Edward Bouverie Pusey. Their followers were sometimes called 'Newmanites' or 'Puseyites'. Another key leader was John Keble. These men and their supporters wanted to change how services were done. They wanted them to be more like the traditional Catholic Mass.

The Tracts for the Times

The Tractarians published ninety different Tracts for the Times. These were like short books or essays. They explained the movement's beliefs and goals. One of the most famous was Tract 90, written by John Henry Newman. In this tract, Newman explored the idea that the Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Roman Catholic Churches were all parts of one big Church.

Changes and Conversions

After writing Tract 90, Newman decided that his ideas about the 'Branch Theory' were not enough. He felt he needed to join the Catholic Church. So, in 1845, he became a Catholic. Later, he even became a Cardinal. People who were against the Oxford Movement thought this proved their point. They believed the movement was trying to reunite with Rome (the Catholic Church).

Many others followed Newman and also became Catholic. For example, Henry Edward Manning, another important Tractarian, converted in 1851. However, some leaders, like Pusey and Keble, chose to stay in the Anglican Church. They continued their work to reform it from within.

The Movement Today

Today, the ideas of the Oxford Movement are still present in the 'Anglo-Catholic' part of the Anglican Church. This part is also known as 'High Church'. It means they have more Catholic-like traditions. This is different from 'Low Church', which is more Protestant.

Recently, there have been discussions in the Anglican Church about allowing women to serve as priests and bishops. Some Anglo-Catholics have left the Church because they do not agree with these changes. They have converted to the Catholic Church instead. This shows that the beliefs from the Oxford Movement still influence people today.

Images for kids

• 

  Keble College, Oxford, founded in 1870, was named after John Keble, a Tractarian, by the influence of Edward Pusey, another Tractarian

See also

In Spanish: Movimiento de Oxford para niños