by Carrie Fleharty

Created on: September 22, 2009   Last Updated: October 02, 2009

" I am Henry the VIII I am, Henry the VIII I am I am." Without even thinking most people would relate the Church of England with King Henry the VIII. Some believe that this is when England broke from the Roman Catholic Church. Not true, not true.

The Church of England has quite a history indeed. Before being called the Church of England it was known as the British Church. According to research the British Church has been in existence since around The Third Century A.D., which was part of the early Roman Church. The earlliest known member of the church was St. Alban. In the early days several saints went to Scotland, Ireland and Wales and became the church's missionaries. Invasions by the pagans Angles, Saxons and Jutes nearly destroyed the Church at that time.

Pope Gregory The Great sent a mission of people to England to help convert and restore the Christian ideals, and especially those of the Catholic Church. This mission to the British Ilses was led by St. Agustine of Canterbury, who landed in Kent. From that point forward the church would become known as the Church of England. The Church of England combined the Celtic spirituality from the Scottish, the early Roman British Church and the influence of Pope Gregory the Great and his missionaries. This combination and imbedded faiths would become known as the Church of England with the Archbishop of Canterbury and York as head of the church. This church was under the authority of the Pope.

Fast forward to the 16th Century and you come in contact with the Reformation Movement of the World. Thus beginning the division from the Catholic Church and not recognizing the Pope as leader. Now enters Henry VIII into the history books. The break from the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England is in fact due to the unhappy marriage of Henry VIII and his be-headed wives, because the Pope not granting annulment for the marriage.

Along the same lines the Tudors believed that the Church of England needed to be ruled by the British Monarchy. They believed that the Protestant movement teachings were more faithful to the Early Church. Still they were considered part of the Catholic Church. Now enters the Queen Elizabeth I in the history. The break away from the Roman Catholic Church has begun, and became a reality. Queen Elizabeth I is the true head of the Church of England.

All is not settled with the Church. The Puritans wanted even further reforms, and two written works are considered part of the reason for the English Civil War of 1649-1660. Those works were "Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity" and "The Book of Common Prayer." This Civil war really ended with the Toleration Act which gave the others the right to exist and practice their faith.

Basically the Spirituality of the Church of England is much like the early church of the Third Century. They believe in the constant commitment to Faith, revealed by the Holy Scriptures, and set forth in the Catholic Creeds. The Church has a determination to bring the Holy Spirit, and the Grace of God to the Whole nation. It's roots of Celtic, Catholic and the Reformation movement are the church's spiritual foundation.

Learn more about this author, Carrie Fleharty.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.