The Anglican Communion and Presbyterianism
Formation of the Church of England
King Henry VII, the father of Henry VIII(A.D. 26 Jun 1491–28 Jan 1547) Henry VIII became King of England in 1509. Initially he rejected the Protestant reformation movement and earned the title, Defender of the Faith, from the Catholic pope. He later broke from the Catholic Church... more, became the first of the TudorQueen Mary I (A.D. 1516–1558) was a Queen of England and Ireland, and daughter to King Henry VIII. During her reign, she violently sought to reverse the protestant reforms which had been commenced by her father and half-brother who reigned... more line to become the king of England, and he made a concerted effort to secure and reinforce his family’s right to the throne. To ensure his legacy, Henry VII arranged for Henry VIII(A.D. 26 Jun 1491–28 Jan 1547) Henry VIII became King of England in 1509. Initially he rejected the Protestant reformation movement and earned the title, Defender of the Faith, from the Catholic pope. He later broke from the Catholic Church... more to be betrothed to Catherine of Aragon(A.D. 1485–1536) Catherine of Aragon was the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. She married King Henry VIII of England but failed to produce a mail heir which survived past infancy. This was a major contributing factor to the... more, the daughter of King Ferdinand and Isabella(A.D. 1341–1504) Queen Isabella of Spain was married to Ferdinand II of Aragon and was renowned for her devotion to the Catholic Church. more of Spain, when HenryCarl Henry (A.D. 1913–2003) was an American theologian and evangelical Christian. He was a key figure in the development of fundamentalist evangelical Christianity in America, advocating for involvement in the community rather than separating out from it. He also established numerous... more was only twelve years old. Because Catherine was the widow of Henry’s older brother, the marriage required a special dispensation from the Pope, which was granted.
Henry blamed his chief advisor, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, and arrested him for treason. Wolsey was a very ambitious and corrupt cleric who had finagled his lucrative appointments to several bishoprics and as the abbot of various monasteries and had even arranged for his illegitimate son to become a bishopA person holding the ecclesiastical office that exerciseds authority over the laity and priests in a geographical area called a “diocese” where the bishop’s “see,” or seat, is located, which is referred to as his bishopric. Also see episcopate. more. His corruption became public during his trial. Anticlerical sentiment was already strong in England because of years of abuse and privilege by the clergyconsists of the priest, ministers and pastors of Christian churches. In the medieval church this term referred to both regular priest who were monks subject to a rule (regula) of a monastic order and secular priest who were not monks... more. Humanist scholars influenced by Erasmus(A.D. 28 Dec 1466–12 Jul 1536) Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus is often referred to as the Prince of the Humanists. He was renowned as the greatest scholar of Northern Europe when the Protestant Reformation began. He advocated reform of the Catholic... more were also critical of the Catholic Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more and the papacyThe office of pope in the Roman Catholic Church which is the highest office in its hierarchical structure. more. Wycliffe’s influence had survived and was reinvigorated by the Protestant Reformation(A.D. 1517) The Protestant Reformation begins as Martin Luther posts his 95 Theses, largely in response to the widespread abuses caused by the aggressive commercialization of indulgences. more in Europe. Inspired by this movement, William Tyndale translated the Bible into English in 1522, against the order of the Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more, and was executed for it in 1536. Wolsey’s trial galvanized this pent-up opposition, which was partly led by John Colet, the humanistA scholar during the Renaissance movement who sought to recover a more historically accurate understanding of ancient languages and literature, including pagan classics, the Bible and the writings of the early church fathers. Some of the most notable Christian humanists... more dean of Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London who attacked corruption in the Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more. Wolsey was found guilty and executed.
Henry VIII(A.D. 26 Jun 1491–28 Jan 1547) Henry VIII became King of England in 1509. Initially he rejected the Protestant reformation movement and earned the title, Defender of the Faith, from the Catholic pope. He later broke from the Catholic Church... more tried to get the popeThe Roman Catholic bishop of Rome who is regarded as the successor of the chief apostle, Peter, and as the Vicar of Christ is the holder of the Apostolic See and head of Christ’s church on earth. more to give him control of the Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more in England, similar to the control the French and Spanish kings had over the Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more in their kingdoms, so he could openly dissolve his marriage to Catherine. Henry’s new Catholic chief minister, Thomas Moore, refused to support this plan, so he was arrested and eventually executed. He was replaced by Thomas CromwellOliver Cromwell (A.D. 1599–1658) was an intensely religious Puritan and political leader of England. He fought for Parliament in the English Civil War, where he quickly rose to prominence through military achievement. He subsequently became the despotic Lord Protector of... more, who got Parliament to pass measures severing the Church’s ties with Rome, thus granting the crown supremacy over the Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more in England and legitimizing Henry’s marriage to Ann Boleyn(c. A.D. 1501–1536) Anne Boleyn was the second wife of King Henry VIII. She refused to become his mistress, which caused him to increasingly fixate on annulling his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Anne therefore features prominently in the English... more. Soon thereafter, Parliament dissolved the monasteries and the crown seized and sold all their property. The split with Rome was complete.
However, the doctrineis derived from the Latin word for teaching, doctrina, and is an important aspect of Christianity more so than other world religions because Christianity focuses on the teachings and nature of Christ. more and practices of the Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more in England basically remained Catholic even though HenryCarl Henry (A.D. 1913–2003) was an American theologian and evangelical Christian. He was a key figure in the development of fundamentalist evangelical Christianity in America, advocating for involvement in the community rather than separating out from it. He also established numerous... more allowed the publication of the Bible and the liturgy more in English. Many influential persons, including the ProtestantContrary to popular belief, the term does not refer to protest against the Roman Catholic Church. The term original refers to a formal protest lodged by Lutheran princes against an unfavorable decision made by the imperial Diet of Speyer in... more Archbishop of Canterbury and Thomas Cranmer(A.D. 1489–1556) Thomas Cranmer was instrumental in establishing the Church of England, supporting the principle of Royal Supremacy. He was critical in building the case for the annulment of the marriage between King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, a... more, wanted to implement more ProtestantContrary to popular belief, the term does not refer to protest against the Roman Catholic Church. The term original refers to a formal protest lodged by Lutheran princes against an unfavorable decision made by the imperial Diet of Speyer in... more changes, but others felt that the king had already gone too far. Consequently, Henry VIII(A.D. 26 Jun 1491–28 Jan 1547) Henry VIII became King of England in 1509. Initially he rejected the Protestant reformation movement and earned the title, Defender of the Faith, from the Catholic pope. He later broke from the Catholic Church... more pursued a compromised course of tolerance, which became the defining characteristic of Anglican Protestantism.
Development of Anglican Protestant Theology
They pursued an ambiguous approach on controversial issues in order to create a big tent where individuals with different beliefs could interpret the language of these articles of faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more in their own way. This was important to avoid conflict within the established state church, which required universal participation. Indeed, in 1628, the king forbad debate regarding the meaning of the Thirty-Nine Articles precisely for this reason.1
The new Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more of England was definitely ProtestantContrary to popular belief, the term does not refer to protest against the Roman Catholic Church. The term original refers to a formal protest lodged by Lutheran princes against an unfavorable decision made by the imperial Diet of Speyer in... more, but it maintained much of the look and feel of its Catholic roots. It still maintained its Episcopal structure with the archbishop of Canterbury becoming the head religious leader of the Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more under the crown, but he did not exercise control over the Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more as the papacyThe office of pope in the Roman Catholic Church which is the highest office in its hierarchical structure. more did in Catholicism. As in all ProtestantContrary to popular belief, the term does not refer to protest against the Roman Catholic Church. The term original refers to a formal protest lodged by Lutheran princes against an unfavorable decision made by the imperial Diet of Speyer in... more denominations, the Bible was the ultimate authority. As the British Empire spread around the globe, it carried Anglicanism with it, creating a worldwide fellowship of independent national churches which maintained communionis derived from the Latin term communio, which basically means to have in common. Words such as “partaking,” “sharing,” or “fellowship” are often translations of this root term. Partaking of the Eucharist is often referred to as the sacrament of... more with the Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more of England. The Episcopal Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more is the American arm of this Anglican communionis derived from the Latin term communio, which basically means to have in common. Words such as “partaking,” “sharing,” or “fellowship” are often translations of this root term. Partaking of the Eucharist is often referred to as the sacrament of... more.
John Knox Presbyterianism in Scotland
In 1559, when Mary I died, Protestants in Scotland sent a delegation to Switzerland to retrieve KnoxJohn Knox (A.D. 1513–24 Nov 1572) Scottish minister who introduced Calvinist Reformed Protestant movement to Scotland, which became the Presbyterian Church. more, and he became their dynamic leader. His impassioned sermons denouncing the “idolatryFrom a Christian perspective, the worship of anything that is not the one true God. During the Reformation era, many Protestants, particularly those from the reformed persuasion, accused Catholics of idolatry for their veneration of the Eucharist, religious art, and... more of the mass and images” incited riots that destroyed churches and monasteries. The devoted Catholic ruler, Mary Queen of Scots, who was raised in Catholic France and still resided there, sent French troops to enforce Catholic rule in Scotland. John Knox openly questioned her right to rule the independent-minded Scots and received military support from Queen ElizabethQueen Elizabeth I (A.D. 1533–1603) was Queen of England and Ireland and inherited a realm wracked with religious strife caused by her father, King Henry VIII’s, establishment of the Church of England. Elizabeth was cautious, pursuing a policy of religious... more in neighboring England. After the Protestant army defeated the French soldiers in a critical battle, Mary consented to a truce and allowed the Scottish Parliament to resolve the conflict.
by C.S. Lewis
Mere Christianity explores the core beliefs of Christianity by providing an unequaled opportunity for believers and nonbelievers alike to hear a powerful, rational case for the Christian faith. Our moral consciousness and moral judgements are proof to the human race that a moral being exists—God. “C.S. Lewis is the ideal persuader for the half-convinced, for the good man who would like to be a Christian but finds his intellect getting in the way.” — Anthony Burgess, New York Times Book Review
The Golden Thread: A History of the Western Tradition, Volume I: The Ancient World and Christendom
by James Hankins and Allen C. Guelzo
"...a monumental work of reclamation and revival...The Golden Thread comes as a history, an argument, a treasure hoard." — The Wall Street Journal. It is a sweeping, resource-rich history of the ancient world and Christendom—designed for students and lifelong learners alike, and faithful to the enduring legacy of the Western tradition. This is Volume I of a two-part series tracing the story of Western civilization from antiquity to the modern age. Where do the threads that form the Western tradition originate, and how were they woven together over the two and a half millennia before A.D. 1500? What are the sources of our modern ideas about science, freedom, equality, law, good government, and virtue? These are the questions explored in The Golden Thread, Volume I: The Ancient World and Christendom. The story begins with the seminal culture of the classical Greeks and moves through the Hellenization of the east following the conquests of Alexander the Great. Hankins then narrates the rise and dominance of Rome and the fusion of Greco-Roman and Judea-Christian cultures in the Christian empire of the fourth century AD. The volume follows the history of Christendom from the fall of the Western Roman Empire, charts its centuries-long rivalry with the Islamic world, and culminates in the emergence of European civilization in the Middle Age and Renaissance. Written by two of the most distinguished historians of our time. It includes nearly 1000 curated images—sculptures, paintings, and artifacts—from the vaults of the West’s finest cultural institutions. Readers are not merely told what happened, but shown what was created—page after page alive with the rich architecture, sculpture, music, and painting and maps that gave visible form to the West’s most enduring aspirations.
What if the greatest crisis of our time wasn’t political, economic, or even scientific, but spiritual? The Human Quest for Meaning, presents an unflinching, scholarly, and soul-searching excavation of humanity’s deepest longings. This work cuts through the fog of postmodern relativism and the sterile worship of science to confront the core dilemma of our time: why does a civilization without God still hunger for transcendence? Drawing from ethnological studies, ancient texts, and forgotten philosophical wisdom, Hallstrom traces the arc of religious and philosophical history; not to convert, but to clarify. In a world obsessed with novelty, this book dares to remember.
In this book, readers will delve into the surprising belief systems of some of the most primitive cultures, exploring why they revered a moral Supreme Being contrary to modern theories of religious evolution. The text also revisits the foundations of Christianity, not as dogma, but as a cultural and metaphysical force that shaped the Western mind. The book further explores how modern secularism has gradually replaced meaning with a mechanistic worldview and why this replacement is now collapsing. It presents concise, accessible summaries of major world religions, from Hinduism and Buddhism to Islam, Sikhism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism to help broaden a reader’s global spiritual literacy.
In the face of cultural amnesia, this work offers clarity and equips readers with the tools to forge their own enduring philosophy of life. Hallstrom writes with scholarly rigor but aims for accessibility, avoiding dry academic jargon while still delivering a serious intellectual exploration that reads smoothly like a story. While books on religion and philosophy are not new, Hallstrom brings a refreshingly countercultural lens.
Whether you’re a skeptic, a seeker, or a believer, The Human Quest for Meaning will challenge your assumptions, deepen your worldview, and perhaps even awaken something within you.
Available in hardback, audio, paperback and e‑book.
by Timothy Paul Jones
Have you ever wondered who wrote the books in the Bible and how they ended up together? Has anyone ever told you that some books were cut out of the Bible or that the stories of Jesus in the Gospels can’t be trusted? In this book, dive into the fascinating account of the most amazing and best-preserved book the world has ever seen. Dr. Timothy Paul Jones gives easy-to-understand answers to popular questions on the Bible s reliability and accuracy. It explains how the Old Testament and New Testament came to us, the reasons the New Testament books were chosen, tell the compelling stories behind Polycarp, Serapion, John Wycliffe, and William Tyndale, provides fascinating facts about the Bible and definitions of popular terms.
Christian Theology: An Introduction 6th Edition
by Alister E. McGrath
“The genius of Alister E. McGrath is his remarkable ability to write in a clear, concise, and lucid manner that draws both teachers and students to participate with the great thinkers of the Christian tradition, past and present. Education and illumination are the abundant fruits of this massive, well-organized text, which is sure to appeal to a wide range of Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox audiences. For this we are indebted to the author.” Dennis Ngien, Professor of Systematic Theology, Tyndale University College and Seminary, Toronto, Canada. “For sheer comprehensiveness, clarity, and coherence, Alister McGrath has produced the definitive textbook. Always accurate and engaging, students are gently introduced to the gift of Theology in a memorable way.” Ian S. Markham, Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary.
by Alister E. McGrath
Regarded as the leading text in Christian theology for the last 25 years, Alister E. McGrath’s The Christian Theology Reader is now available in a new 5th edition featuring completely revised and updated content. It brings together more than 350 readings from over 200 sources that chart 2,000 years of Christian history, situates each reading within the appropriate historical and theological context with its own introduction, commentary, and study questions, includes new readings on world Christianity and feminist, liberation, and postcolonial theologies, as well as more selections by female theologians and theologians from the developing world, and contains additional pedagogical features, such as new discussion questions and case studies, and a robust website with new videos by the author to aid student learning. It is designed to function as a stand-alone volume, or as a companion to Christian Theology: An Introduction, 6th edition, for a complete overview of the subject.
Church History in Plain Language
by Bruce Shelley and Marshall Shelley
Bruce Shelley's classic history of the church brings the story of global Christianity into the twenty-first century. Like a skilled screenwriter, Shelley begins each chapter with three elements: characters, setting, plot. Taking readers from the early centuries of the church up through the modern era he tells his readers a story of actual people, in a particular situation, taking action or being acted upon, provides a window into the circumstances and historical context, and from there develops the story of a major period or theme of Christian history. Covering recent events, this book also: Details the rapid growth of evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity in the southern hemisphere; Addresses the decline in traditional mainline denominations; Examines the influence of technology on the spread of the gospel; Discusses how Christianity intersects with other religions in countries all over the world. For this fifth edition, Marshall Shelley brought together a team of historians, historical theologians, and editors to revise and update this father's classic text. The new edition adds important stories of the development of Christianity in Asia, India, and Africa, both in the early church as well as in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It also highlights the stories of women and non-Europeans who significantly influenced the development of Christianity but whose contributions are often overlooked in previous overviews of church history. This concise book provides an easy-to-read guide to church history with intellectual substance. The new edition of Church History in Plain Language promises to set a new standard for readable church history.
Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years
by Diarmaid MacCulloch
The New York Times bestseller and definitive history of Christianity for our time—from the award-winning author of The Reformation and Silence. A product of electrifying scholarship conveyed with commanding skill, Diarmaid MacCulloch's Christianity goes back to the origins of the Hebrew Bible and encompasses the globe. It captures the major turning points in Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox history and fills in often neglected accounts of conversion and confrontation in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. MacCulloch introduces us to monks and crusaders, heretics and reformers, popes and abolitionists, and discover Christianity's essential role in shaping human history and the intimate lives of men and women. And he uncovers the roots of the faith that galvanized America, charting the surprising beliefs of the founding fathers, the rise of the Evangelical movement and of Pentecostalism, and the recent crises within the Catholic Church. Bursting with original insights and a great pleasure to read, this monumental religious history will not soon be surpassed.
The Story of the Christian Church
by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut
No institution has spanned more centuries and more continents than the Christian church. Its dramatic story is one of bloodshed and peace, corruption and purity. Here Dr. Hurlbut retells this story in an objective, concise, and clear style, emphasizing the spirit of the church, its growth and maturation, and the causes leading to historic events and their resulting influence. Accurate, up-to-date, and vividly presented, Hurlbut's Story of the Christian Church traces the six general periods of church history from A.D. 30 to the present day. A concluding section, covering the period since Dr. Hurlbut's death, has been added in this revised edition, thus giving the reader a complete, easily understood overview of the Christian church. Designed for two audiences, this book contains outlines and references in the margins to aid the student or teacher along with a continuous narrative and numerous illustrations for the general reader. It is ideal for Sunday school use, since it includes suggested outlines and review questions for each chapter at the end of the book.
The Story of Christianity, Vol. 2: The Reformation to the Present Day
by Justo L. Gonzalez
From Justo L. Gonzalez, author of the acclaimed three-volume History of Christian Thought, The Story of Christianity Volume II: The Reformation to the Present Day is the fully revised and updated second volume of The Story of Christianity. Gonzalez’s astute scholarship, lucid prose, and impassioned focus tell the narrative history of Christianity, beginning with the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century and leading all the way up to present day.
History Of The Christian Church (The Complete Eight Volumes In One)
by Philip Schaff
A monumental work tracing the development of Christianity from its inception to the modern era. Spanning eight volumes condensed into one comprehensive edition, Schaff meticulously examines the growth of Christian doctrine, the evolution of church institutions, and the profound impact of key figures and events on global religious history. Through detailed scholarship and engaging narrative, Schaff provides readers with a thorough understanding of Christianity's journey through the centuries, making this work an essential resource for scholars and enthusiasts alike.
by Will and Ariel Durant
A concise survey of the culture and civilization of mankind, The Lessons of History is the result of a lifetime of research from Pulitzer Prize–winning historians Will and Ariel Durant. With their accessible compendium of philosophy and social progress, the Durants take us on a journey through history, exploring the possibilities and limitations of humanity over time. Juxtaposing the great lives, ideas, and accomplishments with cycles of war and conquest, the Durants reveal the towering themes of history and give meaning to our own.
1 Special credit is given to Phillip Cary, The History of Christian Theology, (The Teaching Company, 2008), Lectures 24 & 25 regarding the theology of the various Christian traditions originating in England.
2 B. H. Roberts, Outlines of Ecclesiastical History, (Deseret Book, 1979), 281–284.
Catherine of Aragon, by William Bromley, 1866, Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester, England, [PD-US]
A digitally restored image of the Joos van Cleve portrait of Henry VIII, (painted c. 1530-35), Becca Segovia, [CC 1.0]
The “Darnley Portrait” of Elizabeth I of England, by unknown (possibly Federico Zuccaro), c. 1575, National Portrait Gallery, London, England [PD-US]
Evelix, Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, photograph 2002 [CC 2.0]
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