With over a millennium of turbulent history behind it, today's Church of England is at the heart the religious life of the nation. It has many roles and duties. Principally, it is the official Christian church in England, and it's the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. It also has a number of sister churches in the other countries of the UK and former colonies and dominions.
With Her Majesty the Queen as its governor, and the Archbishop of Canterbury as its primate, the Church of England proclaims the Christian gospel and provides Christian teaching and services to laypeople via a network of parishes nationwide. These local parish churches also serve to strengthen community life. The members of the Church of England are active role national life with 26 bishops sitting in the House of Lords.
The system of worship in the Church of England is liturgical. The key text is the Book of Common Prayer and its revised alternatives. The church uses the Apostles', the Nicene, and the Athanasian creeds.
General standards of doctrine are found in the Thirty-nine Articles, the Book of Common Prayer, the Catechism, and two 16th-century books of homilies. Authority rests in Scripture as interpreted by tradition.
Though the last century saw a plunge in interest in organised religion, currently around 1.7 million people attend a Church of England service each month. And over 2.8 million join a service on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve.
With Her Majesty the Queen as its governor, and the Archbishop of Canterbury as its primate, the Church of England proclaims the Christian gospel and provides Christian teaching and services to laypeople via a network of parishes nationwide. These local parish churches also serve to strengthen community life. The members of the Church of England are active role national life with 26 bishops sitting in the House of Lords.
The system of worship in the Church of England is liturgical. The key text is the Book of Common Prayer and its revised alternatives. The church uses the Apostles', the Nicene, and the Athanasian creeds.
General standards of doctrine are found in the Thirty-nine Articles, the Book of Common Prayer, the Catechism, and two 16th-century books of homilies. Authority rests in Scripture as interpreted by tradition.
Though the last century saw a plunge in interest in organised religion, currently around 1.7 million people attend a Church of England service each month. And over 2.8 million join a service on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve.