I think my post above was a little too simplified as to the move to the Church of England. One can very reasonably argue that the C of E was the first major move of the Reformation in England, prior English moves being squelched by the monarchy.
Also, after the death of Henry VIII and the short reigns of Edward VI and Jane Grey, the Ca…
I think my post above was a little too simplified as to the move to the Church of England. One can very reasonably argue that the C of E was the first major move of the Reformation in England, prior English moves being squelched by the monarchy.
Also, after the death of Henry VIII and the short reigns of Edward VI and Jane Grey, the Catholic Church was reinstated by Mary I for five years before the C of E was reinstated by Elizabeth I.
From that time I believe the C of E was the official state church and other protestant churches were tolerated. The Catholic Church was not, at least for a long time. But protestant churches were also tolerated to a greater and greater extent in nominally catholic countries during the expansion of the British Empire. The Catholic Church in France, for example, took a huge hit immediately after 1789.
One thing I believe to be true from all that I have read is that the UK was a strongly Christian country at least until World War II with the C of E enjoying pride of place. The decline of Christianity in the UK happened at very much the same time and pace as the decline of the Empire.
I think my post above was a little too simplified as to the move to the Church of England. One can very reasonably argue that the C of E was the first major move of the Reformation in England, prior English moves being squelched by the monarchy.
Also, after the death of Henry VIII and the short reigns of Edward VI and Jane Grey, the Catholic Church was reinstated by Mary I for five years before the C of E was reinstated by Elizabeth I.
From that time I believe the C of E was the official state church and other protestant churches were tolerated. The Catholic Church was not, at least for a long time. But protestant churches were also tolerated to a greater and greater extent in nominally catholic countries during the expansion of the British Empire. The Catholic Church in France, for example, took a huge hit immediately after 1789.
One thing I believe to be true from all that I have read is that the UK was a strongly Christian country at least until World War II with the C of E enjoying pride of place. The decline of Christianity in the UK happened at very much the same time and pace as the decline of the Empire.