...look beyond the pomp and what you actually see is a group of men clinging to the royal skirts while their institution falls to pieces. This really is the endgame for the Church of England as we know it. I don't mean the break-up of the worldwide Anglican Communion, although that too seems likely. African leaders have refused to sign up to a new covenant that was meant to prevent a cataclysmic split over homosexuality.

I'm talking about something close to home, a far more important issue than warring clergy. It's about all of us in England and in Britain, whose language, laws, culture and lives have been shaped by a deal that lasted for 500 years.

The Church of England was made keeper of the nation's soul, with countless special privileges, in return for stating that a succession of monarchs were appointed directly by God.

The trouble is, we just don't believe in that stuff any more....

Read it all.

Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Anglican Provinces • Church of England (CoE) • * Culture-Watch • Religion & Culture • * International News & Commentary • England / UK

1. C. Wingate wrote: It sounds more like “the C of E will be made relinquish these things.” November 28, 9:57 am | [comment link]

2. Cennydd13 wrote: Somehow, I don’t see that happening. November 28, 10:50 am | [comment link]

3. A Senior Priest wrote: Without the power and pomp of Establishment, the CoE will be a hollow shell, deprived of the life-force which animates it. Besides, it would also lose all its buildings and endowments, or at least have to share them with all other religions, since the CoE’s assets probably are owned by the Crown in the first place. November 28, 11:18 am | [comment link]

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