Anglican / Episcopalian Church -
An Introduction
The Anglican
church is composed of the Church of England and seventeen other
autonomous national churches, including the Protestant Episcopalian church.
Two centuries before the Reformation began, the Oxford don John Wycliffe
was translating the Bible into English, denying the supreme authority
of the pope, and proclaiming the Priesthood of all believers. When King
Henry VIII was denied an annulment of his marriage to Catherine by Pope
Clement VII, Henry repudiated the authority of the pope, and proclaimed
himself head of the Church of England, which eventually opened the door
to reform in the British Isles.
Anglicans retain Catholic tradition
while accepting the basic insights of the Protestant
reform. The Anglican communion is a worldwide fellowship, and is the third
oldest and third largest family of Protestant churches.
Episcopalians are the American Anglicans. The name Episcopal comes from the
Greek word episkopos, which means "bishop."
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