What Is Anglicanism?

Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash.

History

Christianity was first introduced to Roman Britain in the 1^st century AD after the crucifixion of Christ. It began as a trickle of information when Roman artisans and traders came to Britain and simply told the story of Jesus along with stories of Pagan deities. At the time, Christianity was just one belief among the many that co-existed in that melting pot of people.^[6] There was a key difference in Christianity. Along with Judaism, it taught that there was one true God (Exodus 20:3). Anyone who chose to become a Christian had to also choose to forsake the other gods they believed in (observe all things Jesus commanded – Matt 28:19) repent and be baptized as Jesus commanded, in the name of The Father, and of The Son and of The Holy Spirit (Matt 28:18-20).

In the late second century, archaeologists suggest that Christianity was properly introduced to Britain.^[6] About AD 200, Tertullian, a great early church father wrote the Adversus Judaeos (An Answer to The Jews), in which he included Britain in a list of places reached by Christianity.^[5] Around the same time, the Greek theologian and church father Origen also wrote that Christianity had reached Britain.^[1]

In AD 303, The Great Persecution began with Emperor Diocletian’s decree that all churches were to be destroyed, all sacred texts and precious liturgical vessels confiscated, and meetings for worship forbidden. All Christian clergy were arrested. Then in AD 304, all Roman citizens were required to make a sacrifice to the Roman gods on pain of death. St. Alban refused and became the first known Christian martyr in England. He was executed in a town called Verulamium. Many years later an abbey was built there dedicated to Saint Alban and the town was renamed Saint Albans.^[4]

According to tradition, Pope Gregory saw boys on sale in the slave market in Rome. He asked about them and when told that they were Angles he replied ‘not Angles but angels.’ In AD 596 he sent a party of about 40 men led by Augustine to Kent in Eastern England. The King of Kent, Aethelbert, permitted the monks to preach there and in time Aethelbert was converted He was likely influenced by his Christian wife, Berta. Also, his nephew, Saeberht, the king of Essex was also converted.^[4]

Meanwhile, in AD 627 King Edwin of Northumbria (in the North of England) and all his nobles were baptized. He may have been influenced by his wife, Ethelburga, who was a Christian. Most of his subjects followed. However, things did not go smoothly in Northumbria. King Edwin was killed at the battle of Hatfield in AD 632 and afterward, most of Northumbria reverted to Paganism. They had to be converted all over again by Celtic monks from Scotland.^[4]

Further south in AD 630 a Christian called Sigebert became King of East Anglia. He asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to send men to help convert his people. Meanwhile, Pope Honorius sent a man named Birinus to convert the West Saxons (who lived in Hampshire).^[4]

In AD 664, the Church in Britain consolidated and submitted to the bishop of Rome (the Pope) at the Synod of Whitby. Thus, the church in Britain became part of the Roman Catholic Church.^[3]

Missionaries also preached in the kingdom of Mercia (The Midlands). In AD 653 King Penda of Mercia was converted and baptized and gradually the realm was converted. The last part of England to be converted to Christianity was Sussex. It was converted after AD 680 by St. Wilfrid. By the end of the 7th century, all of England was at least nominally Christian.^[4]

In the late 9th century, the Danes conquered most of England. However, in AD 878 Alfred the Great, king of Wessex (Southern England) crushed the Danes at the battle of Edington. Afterward, the Danes made a treaty with Alfred. They split England between them, with the Danes taking all the territory east of the old Roman road, Watling Street. The Danes also agreed to become Christians. Once they were converted to Christianity the Danes of Eastern England had much in common with the Saxons. Gradually Alfred’s descendants conquered the Danish-held areas of England and in time they created a single kingdom of England.^[4]

Then in the late 10th century, there was a religious revival. A man named Dunstan (AD 1020-1088) was Archbishop of Canterbury. He reformed the monasteries. Many new churches and monasteries were built during his time. Women played a significant part in the 10th century revival.^[4]

The Church of England and the Church of Rome separated in the 1500s during the Protestant Reformations. The English Reformation was a fairly conservative one, much like the Lutheran reforms. Both Lutheranism and Anglicanism kept more features and practices from the past than other types of Protestantism, such as vestments, the historic church calendar, and robust liturgical worship.^[3]

The political reason for the separation of England and Rome centered around King Henry VIII who had married his brother’s widow, Catherine of Aragon, receiving a special dispensation to do so by the Pope. The couple failed to produce a male heir for the throne, threatening England with yet another civil war (they had just recently concluded the War of the Roses). Henry VIII thought this was a sign of divine judgment against him for disobeying Leviticus 18:16. In AD 1527, Henry appealed to Pope Clement VII to annul the marriage (make the marriage invalid), releasing both spouses from matrimonial vows. The Pope refused, his predecessor having already granted Henry the special dispensation for his current marriage. Of course, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V was the nephew of Catherine, and the pope feared the political consequences of granting the annulment. However, Henry continued to press his case. Taking a suggestion from the theologian Thomas Cranmer, Henry sought the advice from the universities of Europe to discern whether an annulment was warranted. Cranmer’s instincts were right; the scholars of Europe believed Henry and Catherine’s marriage should have never occurred in the first place. Cranmer was made the Archbishop of Canterbury (highest-ranking bishop in the Church of England) in AD 1532, declared the marriage “invalid” in AD 1533, and became the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury when the king removed England from the Pope’s jurisdiction in AD 1534. Thus, King Henry VIII of England was established head over the Church of England. Little if any change in doctrine or practice was initially introduced.^[3][4]

During the reign of King Edward VI (AD 1537–1553), he attempted to place the Church of England more firmly in the Protestant camp, both in theology and practice. However, his half-sister Mary, who was the next monarch on the throne, set about (often by force) bringing the Church back under rule of the Pope of Rome. She failed, but her tactics left the church with widespread mistrust for Roman Catholicism.^[4]

When Queen Elizabeth I took the throne in 1558, she strongly influenced the shape of Anglicanism in the Church of England. Much of her influence is still seen today. Although decisively a Protestant church, under Elizabeth, the Church of England retained much of its pre-Reformation characteristics and offices, such as archbishop, dean, canon, and archdeacon. It also sought to be theologically flexible by permitting various interpretations and views. Lastly, the church focused on the uniformity of practice by emphasizing its Book of Common Prayer as the center of worship and by keeping many of the pre-Reformation customs and rules for clerical dress.^[3][4]

Anglicanism - The Middle Ground

By the end of the 16th century, the Church of England found it necessary to defend itself against both Catholic resistance and increasing opposition from more radical Protestants, later known as Puritans, who wanted further reforms in the Church of England. As a result, the unique Anglican understanding of itself emerged as a middle position between the excesses of both Protestantism and Catholicism. Theologically, the Anglican Church, chose a via media, “a middle way,” reflected in its balancing of Scripture, tradition, and reason.^[3][4]

For a couple of centuries after the time of Elizabeth I, the Anglican church included only the Church of England and Wales, and the Church of Ireland. It expanded with the consecration of bishops in America and other colonies and with the absorption of the Episcopal Church of Scotland.^[2]

The Anglican Communion, founded in AD 1867, in London England, is now the third-largest worldwide Christian communion.

Anglicanism – Life

Anglicanism is a way of being a Christian. Prayer is at the heart of Anglican life, particularly via the Daily Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer. These two services were derived from monastic prayer offices by Thomas Cranmer, giving Anglicanism a distinct Benedictine flavor. The Daily Offices, with regular Holy Communion and private devotion, make up the “rule” of Anglican life. Morning and Evening Prayer can be said or sung. When Evening Prayer is chanted, it is called “Evensong.”

In the daily prayer offices, which can be practiced congregationally or at home, Anglicans read through the Bible on a scheduled plan, called a lectionary. The traditional Anglican lectionary goes through most of the Old Testament and parts of the Apocrypha once a year, the entirety of the New Testament thrice a year, and the Psalter once a month.

Anglicanism has also featured a strong missionary spirit from its very beginning. Whether it was monastic missionaries from the British Isles during the early medieval times, or courageous modern missionaries who brought the Gospel to Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas, healthy Anglicanism has almost always practiced effective evangelism. The fruits of missional Anglicanism can be clearly seen, as Anglican churches continue to spring up and grow throughout the Global South.

References

1. ^ Browne, George. "The Christian Church in These Islands before the Coming of Augustine." Bible Hub, www.biblehub4.com/library/browne/the_christian_church_in_these_islands_before_the_coming_of_augustine/lecture_ii_early_mentions_of.htm.
2. ^ Fairchild, Mary. "Anglican Church Overview." Learn Religions, Sep. 15, 2021, www.learnreligions.com/anglican-episcopal-denomination-700140.
3. ^ Gingerich, Barton. "What Do I Need to Know about the Anglican Church?" Christianity.com, 5 Oct. 2022, www.christianity.com/church/denominations/the-anglican-church.html.
4. ^ Lambert, Tim. "A History of Christianity in England." Local Histories, 14 March 2021, www.localhistories.org/a-history-of-christianity-in-england/.
5. ^ Tertullian, Quintus. From The Anteniecene Fathers. “An Answer to the Jews”, Accordance 13.3.4 (13.3.4). Presbyterian publishing house T. & T. Clark in Edinburgh, between 1867 and 1873.
6. ^ “When Did Christianity come to England?” twinkl. www.twinkl.com/teaching-wiki/christianity-come-to-england.