RELIGION
In UK there are two establish (= official) churches:
o Church of England (Anglican)
o Church of Scotland (Presbyterian)
CHURCH OF ENGLAND
Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England.
Types of Churches:
o Low church (not decorated churches, traditional, simple service)
o High church (introduced some catholic elements: ornamentation, decoration, literature)
Structure of the Church of England:
o The Sovereign – Queen is the head of the church
o 2 Archbishops (Archbishop of Canterbury and Archbishop of York) – responsible for provinces
o Bishops – responsible for dioceses
o Vicars (rectors) – responsible for parishes
o Deans – responsible for Cathedrals (more important role than Vicars in churches)
o Clergymen – are ordained by bishops
Bishops, archbishops and deans are appointed by the Crown.
All clergy take allegiance to the Crown.
Theological collages – is an institution where students prepare to become priests.
Financing:
o Clergy – paid out of Church’s fund.
o Churches – paid out of parishioners’ contribution shops in cathedrals.
Sunday schools – a religious class for Christian children.
o Everybody has the right of religious freedom.
o Religious education is required by law.
o Religious services on TV – ecumenical
History:
o Westminster Abbey
o 1534
o monasteries dissolution
o properties confiscated
o English language introduced
o 1549 – protestant form of worship – set in Book of Common Prayer – not introduced
o 1558 – Church of England established by Act of Parliament
o English language Book of Common Prayer
o 1611 – King James Bible
Church reforms:
o XVI-th century – priests are allowed to be married
o 1987 – women are ordained as priests
o 2008 – women can be bishops
CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
The Church of Scotland is officially established church in Scotland, shaped during reformation.
o no hierarchy
o separate from the Anglican church
o Presbyterian form of Protestantism
o has its own organization
o appoints its own ministers
o parliament in England can’t decided about this church – not subject to parliamentary discussion or modification
History of the Church
o originated in XVI-th century
o John Knox – was a Scottish clergyman and a leader of the Protestant Reformation who brought reformation to the church in Scotland.
o government by elders
o both men and women admitted to the ministry
FREE CHURCHES
Free Churches are an Anglican churches which separated from the established Church of England.
o started/ originated after reformation
o own from of religious organization
o no archbishops and bishops
o both men and women in the ministry
o simple services
The Methodist Church
o originated in the XVIII-th century
o John Wesley
o 1932 – Union of most Methodist churches
o knows for its missionary work
o more popular in Northern regions, Wales
Other Free Churches
o The United Reformed church
o 1972
o Congregational church
o Presbyterian Church
o Wales
o The Quakers
o The Society of Friends
o XVII-th century
o No ministers
o No organised services
o Refuse to serve in the armed forces
o The Presbyterian Church
o The Unitarian Church
o House – church movement
o The Jehovah’s Church
o The Mormon Church
The Salvation Army is rather an religious organisation.
o William Booth
o preaching and doing social work among the poor
o military organization (Major, General)
The Baptist Church
o one of the oldest free churches
o most churches are grouped in association of churches
o the Baptist union of GB
o reject infant baptism
o popular in Wales
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
The Roman Catholic Church
o XVI-th century
o hierarchy extinct
o XIX-th century
o restored
o Pope is the head of the church
o The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster (in Westminster Abbey)
o 8 provinces: dioceses
o schools for catholic children
OTHER RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES
o The Jewish Faith
o Orthodox – the Chief
o Rabbi
o Liberal
o Muslims – the largest community (the largest non-Christian group)
o The Islamic cultural centre
o London Central Mosque
o Siku and Hindu communities
o 150 temples
o Buddhist groups
o 200 centres
o 7 monasteries
COOPERATION AMONG CHURCHES
o The British Council of Churches – organisation decides about movements, located in London.
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