Established church

Established church

An established church is a church officially sanctioned and supported by the government of a country, e.g. the Church of England in the United Kingdom.

Church of England

The Church of England is the established church in England, of which the monarch is constitutionally the supreme governor. Until 1920 it also held the same position in Wales and the Church of Ireland had the same position in Ireland prior to 1869.

Since the Revolution of 1688 the Church of Scotland has been the established church in Scotland. After King William III and his wife Queen Mary II landed in England and replaced James II, a settlement was reached where Scotland would have a distinct church. From that point on the Church of England was Episcopalian and the Church of Scotland was Presbyterian. Because of the National Covenants, which were important to the people of Scotland, the relationship between church and state is organized differently in that the church is independent of parliament rather than being subject to it.

A strong push was made by liberals and dissenters for disestablishment in England in the late nineteenth century as well; although unsuccessful, the issue has never entirely gone away.

ee also

* State religion
* Church of Ireland


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  • Established church — Church Church (ch[^u]rch), n. [OE. chirche, chireche, cherche, Scot. kirk, from AS. circe, cyrice; akin to D. kerk, Icel. kirkja, Sw. kyrka, Dan. kirke, G. kirche, OHG. chirihha; all fr. Gr. kyriako n the Lord s house, fr. kyriako s concerning a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • established church — n. 1. a church officially recognized by the government and supported as a national institution 2. [E C ] the Church of England …   English World dictionary

  • established church — noun the church that is recognized as the official church of a nation • Hypernyms: ↑religion, ↑faith, ↑organized religion * * * noun : a church that is recognized by law as the official church of a nation, that is supported by civil authority,… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Established Church of Scotland —     Established Church of Scotland     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Established Church of Scotland     The religious organization which has for three centuries and a half claimed the adherence of the majority of the inhabitants of Scotland, may be… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • established church — a church that is recognized by law, and sometimes financially supported, as the official church of a nation. Also called state church. Cf. national church. [1650 60] * * *       a church recognized by law as the official church of a state or… …   Universalium

  • established church — estab′lished church′ n. rel a church that is recognized by law, and sometimes financially supported, as the official church of a nation …   From formal English to slang

  • established church — noun Date: circa 1702 a church recognized by law as the official church of a nation or state and supported by civil authority …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • established church — noun a church that is officially recognized as a national institution by a government; in England it is the Church of England …   Wiktionary

  • Established Church —    The Church designated the official Church of the nation …   Who’s Who in Christianity

  • established church — /əˌstæblɪʃt ˈtʃɜtʃ/ (say uh.stablisht cherch), /ɛs / (say es ) noun a church recognised and sometimes partly supported by the state …  

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