There is direct evidence (written and archaeological) for the Church being in England...for as long as it has been in Rome, that is into the 1st Century.
The Church in England though, only formally submitted to the Bishop of Rome in the 7th Century...meaning, that in the British Isles, Anglican Christianity is OLDER than Roman Catholicism.
This became manifest in the Celtic Church—whose most famous missionary was St. Patrick, of the 400s.
Anglicanism is the original Church of the British Isles.
The idea that Anglicanism only dates back to a certain King Henry’s anullment is rubbish. His politically motivated break with Rome only returned the Church of England to it’s original state...hundreds of years before Rome’s domination.
“There is direct evidence (written and archaeological) for the Church being in England...for as long as it has been in Rome, that is into the 1st Century.”
Absolutely, the Catholic church. There was Rome in Britain, which is where the faith came from. The Emperor in Rome, Constantine, came from that part of the Empire, as did his father, Constantius. That was his initial power base.
There is evidence of the Church in Brittannia, but that church didn’t get reconstituted until St. Augustine returned to England in the early 6th century. I don’t believe any of the churches or sanctuaries have been preserved from that time.
“The Church in England though, only formally submitted to the Bishop of Rome in the 7th Century”
They never left. They were Catholic before, and Catholic after. They were only separated, not by creed, but by distance and the lack of communications with the fall of the Roman Empire.
“meaning, that in the British Isles, Anglican Christianity is OLDER than Roman Catholicism.”
Pure nonsense. There was no difference between the Church in Rome, and the Church in England at the time. Their only conflict was over the date of the Easter celebrations. That was all.
There was nothing ‘Anglican’ about the church. Heck, the Church predates the appearance of the Saxons in England.
The church that came from St. Augustine, and the Venerable Bede, Iona, etc, was the Catholic church which eventually converted the Saxons as they did the Norse. Look at the arms of the Confessor, who was very much so Catholic.
“Anglicanism is the original Church of the British Isles.”
Uh, I’ve got bad news for you. No, that’s not true at all. Sorry. :)
“The idea that Anglicanism only dates back to a certain King Henry’s anullment is rubbish.”
It’s 100 percent true. King Henry considered himself to be a devout Catholic, which is why he was marrying Catherine of Aragon, a devout Catholic, which is why he was seeking an annulment from the POPE.
But no. The pope said no, so he decided to create his own church where he would be the HEAD of the church. Compare this to the discussion of Edward III, or of the confessor, etc.
The Anglican church as we know it was the spawn of King Henry and his desire for a divorce. Nothing more, nothing less.
“His politically motivated break with Rome only returned the Church of England to it’s original state...hundreds of years before Rome’s domination.”
Uh, I hate to break it to you, but the Romans were in Briton before the Saxons and the ‘Anglicans’. The Romans brought the Church to England. At least three times.