It’s simply NOT dubious that the Church in England, and the Church of England, have been the same entity, before and after the Reformation-era split with Rome. The same bishops, same cathedrals, same churches...which were once in communion with Rome, broke communion with Rome—with the Act of Supremacy in 1534. It wasn’t a group of rebels that “stole” churches from the Roman catholics, rather the whole country—like it or not—withdrew from Roman church rule.
If alliance to Jesus makes a church denomination a Church—than the CofE goes back nearly 2000 years; if alliance to Rome is what makes a denomination a church then, well CofE hasn’t been a Church in nearly 500 years. You can’t have it both ways—either the CofE is, and always has been, Christian, or not.
LOW
KNEE
They no longer partook of the Eucharist, there t;hey were in direct disobedience to what Jesus Christ Himself said to do from that time forward. There is no unbroken chain back to Christ if there is no unbroken chain of His body and His blood.
Sounds like you're the one who wants to have it both ways by claiming that thumbing your nose at Jesus Christ doesn't break your connection to Christ.
I think you’re oversimplifying things in suggesting that England’s schism was universally agreed upon.
However, I’m not in the mood to pick a fight with Anglicans. I have no doubt Richard III received proper rites when he was originally interred, so what the British government decides to do in the pageantry of this means little to me.
“Church in England, and the Church of England, have been the same entity”
It’s a plain and simple lie. Sure, it’s been a lie promoted since the Elizabethan era, but it’s still a lie.
“The same bishops”
Not so. Elizabeth executed all the Catholic priests and bishops.
“same cathedrals”
Henry VIII confiscated them from the Catholic church.
“which were once in communion with Rome, broke communion with Rome—with the Act of Supremacy in 1534”
Then why were Catholics loyal to the pope executed by Henry VIII and Elizabeth if this were so?
“than the CofE goes back nearly 2000 years”
Pure fantasy. The CofE originates with Henry VIII, who appointed Cranmore to the bishopric (he was not a bishop prior).
“well CofE hasn’t been a Church in nearly 500 years.”
False dilemma. Neither is true. A church can exist out of communion with Rome. That the RCC existed long before the Anglican church is historical fact. That the English Catholic church (look at the confessor), existed, is a fact. That Henry VIII confiscated church property (which has not been returned), is a fact. That the Plantagenets (who were from France and not England), were Catholics, is a fact. So were the Saxons for that matter.
Cranmore was not a RCC bishop prior to Henry VIII - he was appointed that position by Henry. You’re saying ‘the same bishops’ were in the Anglican church - this is false.