Disestablishmentarianism
Encyclopedia
Disestablishmentarianism today relates to the Church of England
in the United Kingdom
and related views on its establishment as an established church.
It was primarily a movement in the United Kingdom
in the 19th century
, when all four Home nations
had established churches, even though the established churches in Wales and Ireland could not count on even nominal adherence by a majority of the population of those countries.
In Ireland, the predominantly Catholic population campaigned against the position of the established Anglican Church of Ireland
- eventually disestablished in 1869.
In England there was a campaign by Liberals, dissenter
s and nonconformists to disestablish the Church of England in the late 19th century. The campaigners were called "Liberationists" (the "Liberation Society" was founded by Edward Miall
in 1853). This campaign failed, but nearly all of the legal disabilities of nonconformists were gradually dismantled. The campaign for disestablishment was revived in the 20th century
when Parliament rejected the 1929 revision of the Book of Common Prayer
, leading to calls for separation of Church and State to prevent political interference in matters of worship. In the late 20th century, reform of the House of Lords
also brought into question the position of the Lords Spiritual.
The Church of England was disestablished in Wales in 1920, becoming the Church in Wales
. It continues to be the established church in England.
The Church of Ireland
was disestablished in 1869.
The Church of Scotland
was disestablished in 1929 but remains the national church of Scotland.
The question of the succession to the British monarchy
is also affected by the Act of Settlement 1701
.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and related views on its establishment as an established church.
It was primarily a movement in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the 19th century
19th century
The 19th century was a period in history marked by the collapse of the Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Holy Roman and Mughal empires...
, when all four Home nations
Home Nations
Home Nations is a collective term with one of two meanings depending on the context. Politically, it means the nations of the constituent countries of the United Kingdom...
had established churches, even though the established churches in Wales and Ireland could not count on even nominal adherence by a majority of the population of those countries.
In Ireland, the predominantly Catholic population campaigned against the position of the established Anglican Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
- eventually disestablished in 1869.
In England there was a campaign by Liberals, dissenter
Dissenter
The term dissenter , labels one who disagrees in matters of opinion, belief, etc. In the social and religious history of England and Wales, however, it refers particularly to a member of a religious body who has, for one reason or another, separated from the Established Church.Originally, the term...
s and nonconformists to disestablish the Church of England in the late 19th century. The campaigners were called "Liberationists" (the "Liberation Society" was founded by Edward Miall
Edward Miall
Edward Miall was an English journalist, apostle of disestablishment, founder of the Liberation Society, and Liberal Party politician.Miall was born at Portsmouth...
in 1853). This campaign failed, but nearly all of the legal disabilities of nonconformists were gradually dismantled. The campaign for disestablishment was revived in the 20th century
20th century
Many people define the 20th century as running from January 1, 1901 to December 31, 2000, others would rather define it as beginning on January 1, 1900....
when Parliament rejected the 1929 revision of the Book of Common Prayer
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
, leading to calls for separation of Church and State to prevent political interference in matters of worship. In the late 20th century, reform of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
also brought into question the position of the Lords Spiritual.
The Church of England was disestablished in Wales in 1920, becoming the Church in Wales
Church in Wales
The Church in Wales is the Anglican church in Wales, composed of six dioceses.As with the primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Archbishop of Wales serves concurrently as one of the six diocesan bishops. The current archbishop is Barry Morgan, the Bishop of Llandaff.In contrast to the...
. It continues to be the established church in England.
The Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
was disestablished in 1869.
The Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
was disestablished in 1929 but remains the national church of Scotland.
The question of the succession to the British monarchy
British monarchy
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
is also affected by the Act of Settlement 1701
Act of Settlement 1701
The Act of Settlement is an act of the Parliament of England that was passed in 1701 to settle the succession to the English throne on the Electress Sophia of Hanover and her Protestant heirs. The act was later extended to Scotland, as a result of the Treaty of Union , enacted in the Acts of Union...
.
See also
- AntidisestablishmentarianismAntidisestablishmentarianismAntidisestablishmentarianism is a political position that originated in 19th-century Britain in opposition to proposals for the disestablishment of the Church of England, that is, to remove the Anglican Church's status as the state church of England, Ireland, and Wales.The establishment was...
- AntiestablishmentarianismAntiestablishmentarianismAntiestablishmentarianism is a policy or attitude that views a nation's power structure as corrupt, repressive, or exploitive....
- Christian anarchismChristian anarchismChristian anarchism is a movement in political theology that combines anarchism and Christianity. It is the belief that there is only one source of authority to which Christians are ultimately answerable, the authority of God as embodied in the teachings of Jesus...
- Religion in the United KingdomReligion in the United KingdomReligion in the United Kingdom and the states that pre-dated the UK, was dominated by forms of Christianity for over 1,400 years. Although a majority of citizens still identify with Christianity in many surveys, regular church attendance has fallen dramatically since the middle of the 20th century,...
- SecularismSecularismSecularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...
- State ChurchState churchState churches are organizational bodies within a Christian denomination which are given official status or operated by a state.State churches are not necessarily national churches in the ethnic sense of the term, but the two concepts may overlap in the case of a nation state where the state...
- TitheTitheA tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash, cheques, or stocks, whereas historically tithes were required and paid in kind, such as agricultural products...
- Welsh Church Act 1914Welsh Church Act 1914The Welsh Church Act 1914 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom under which the Welsh part of the Church of England was separated and disestablished, leading to the creation of the Church in Wales...