Anglican Church
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Anglican Church:
see England, Church ofEngland, Church of,the established church of England and the mother church of the Anglican Communion. Organization and Doctrine
The clergy of the church are of three ancient orders: deacons, priests, and bishops.
..... Click the link for more information. ; Anglican CommunionAnglican Communion,
the body of churches in all parts of the world that are in communion with the Church of England (see England, Church of). The communion is composed of regional churches, provinces, and separate dioceses bound together by mutual loyalty as expressed in the
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Anglican Church
(religion, spiritualism, and occult)The word "Anglican" means "of England"; the Anglican Church is also known as the Church of England, but it now exists worldwide.
Although Angelicans claim apostolic succession, an unbroken line of apostles going back to Peter, Anglicans officially broke away from Rome in 1536. They were one of the many—and sometimes violent—reform movements following Martin Luther's posting of his Ninety-five Theses, the event that marked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
As with most historical stories, there is a simple view, popularly accepted, and a more complex one that, perhaps, tells the real story.
The popular perception, especially in the United States, is that King Henry VIII wanted a divorce and the Pope wouldn't grant it. So he simply declared the Church of England separate from Rome and dissolved the monasteries and abbeys. Anglicans still considered themselves to be the true church, but, following the tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Church division of 1054, they now existed with a distinct identity.
As with most history, there is a more complex story. A careful reading of the historical record shows a series of disputes between Henry VIII and Rome throughout his reign. The divorce issue was simply one of many disagreements, some religious and some political, that split Rome and England.
What holds the Anglican Church together is not necessarily its English identity, although members do celebrate their tradition. The church finds its identity in the Bible, in their Articles of Religion, and especially in the Book of Common Prayer, first produced in 1549. Here the Latin liturgy of Rome was altered, simplified, and translated into English. The revision of 1662 has become the basis for most modern Anglican liturgy, so that the words and "feel" of worship are familiar to Anglicans no matter where they worship around the world.
In July 2002 the British government announced the appointment of the Most Reverend Rowan Williams, Bishop of Monmouth and Archbishop of Wales, to the position of 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, leader of the Anglican Church. The Reverend Williams is an outspoken liberal, questioning traditional church views on all kinds of hot-button issues such as gay rights, women's rights, and the church's history concerning rights in general. He also happens to be the first archbishop to wear a beard. On the evening of July 24th he was both lauded by the BBC and ridiculed, along with the whole Anglican Church and most participants of English religious society, by Pat Robertson on the 700 Club television show.
It's not easy being archbishop. Reverend Williams responded simply by asking people to pray.