For Anglo Catholics: Please answer my question in body of Title:?

Question

I'm located in America. I need to know more about the Church of England. I understand that Henry the VIII is the cause of the evolving of the Church, in England, to become an umbrella that encompasses a Higher Church - Catholicism (Anglo Catholic)- and Lower Church - Protestant/Evangelical. Please answer these questions:

(1) Can someone tell me if this is different than an actual Episcopalian Church, as in America? I thought the Angelical Church of England IS Episcopalian ?

(2) If a Priest quits as an Episcopalian Priest and becomes an Anglo-Catholic Priest, wasn't he always inside the Church of England, if he lives in England? And still is ?

(3) Am I mistaken, Episcopalian is a cut between Catholic and Protestant?

I have read all the books by Susan Howatch on the Church of England, and I am still a bit confused. Thank you for your help.

May I, at this moment, take time to say thank you to EACH of you for the picture you are giving to me of the Church of England. Very helpful in my understanding its various aspects.

TO SKEPSIS: Your answer and Tonks were hard to choose between: You both offered me so much. I'm grateful for your information. I enjoyed reading you so much. I want you to have honorable mention. Thank you. Lana

Answer 1

The Anglican Church is worldwide. The head is the Archbishop of Canterbury. In the U.K. it is called the Church of England and in the U.S. it is call the Episcopal Church. Some say that it is a Protestant church. Actually it is an entity into itself. If we think of Christianity as being divide into 4 basic branches: Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Protestant. The Anglican Church considers itself to be a bridge between Catholic and Protestant. We have elements of both. Some are low Church and some are high and some in-between. (Something for everyone.)

In the U.S. because of the controversy with, first, women priest, and now a gay bishop, some members of the Church have split off to start a separate congregation. Most of these are still in communion with the worldwide Church.

Once a person is ordained a priest he/she is always a priest. Nothing changes that, but they can be forbidden to practice as a priest. I consider myself to be Anglo-Catholic because I am High Church, but I do not attend an Anglo-Catholic parish.

Feel free to contact me if you have more questions.

Answer 2

The Anglican Church considers itself the same thing as the Catholic Church EXCEPT that its head is nominally the queen, not the pope. (Actually, it's the archbishop of Canterbury.) The Episcopal Church developed in America out of necessity because of the Revolutionary War. It's hard to be a church whose head is the reigning monarch of the country from which you just declared independence. It is a separately governed organization but it maintains a communal relationship with the parent church. Effectively, Episcopal is the American version of Anglican. (Note: There are Anglican and Episcopal churches in Canada, but not Anglican churches in the USA.)

The Catholic Church is NOT in direct communion with the Anglican or Episcopal Churches, although they have signed an accord on some general principles. Because of the nature of the Anglican schism, the status of apostolic succession in the Anglican Church is unclear to Rome. They willingly re-ordain Anglican/Episcopal priests who convert to Catholicism, although they can't officially recognize the previous ordination. But Catholics are not Anglicans. The Church of England IS Anglican. Catholics in the UK are members of the Catholic Church IN England.

Answer 3

The Anglican church came into being because Henry VIII declared himself the head of the Church in England (because the Vicar of Christ would not allow him to divorce and remarry Ann Boleyn)

That's why the Anglicans are separated from the Catholic Church.

The Anglicans are protestant.

Answer 4

Episcopalians are a branch, or division of the Anglican Church.
There are many Episcopal congregations that are moving back to the "mother church", i.e. Anglican, due to the more liberal attitudes of the U.S. Episcopal leadership.

Anglicans/Episcopalians are 90% Roman Catholic - the main difference is that they do not follow the Pope.

Answer 5

High Church Anglicans are not Catholics. Anglicans are Protestants. Catholics - all of them - are under the authority of the Pope. Anglicans are not.
Episcopalians are the American offshoot of Anglicanism.

Answer 6

"Lana S.?!"

Sorry not to answer your question.



once upon a time i knew a lana s.
and i am intrigued

Answer 7

go to this web site
http://www.shepherdschapel.com/

and come out of confusion