Church of England

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Canterbury Cathedral

Hans Holbein the Younger: portrait of Henry VIII

Why did Henry VIII form the Church of England?

The video thumbnail image includes a 17th century artwork showing men fighting at a gambling table, surrounded by a Christmas garland and overlaid on a photograph of a snowy forest.

John Henry Newman

Archbishop of Canterbury

For Students

Church of England summary

Church of England: Related Content

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Last Updated: Jul 14, 2025

News •

Bishops call on UK government to take action over West Bank settler violence • July 13, 2025, 7:04 AM ET (The Guardian)

Church of England Stalking Case; Global Religion Study; Faith at Glastonbury • June 30, 2025, 6:42 AM ET (BBC)

Church of England ‘is preparing for UK at war’ • June 27, 2025, 8:13 AM ET (The Telegraph)

Photos and Videos

Canterbury Cathedral

Hans Holbein the Younger: portrait of Henry VIII

John Henry Newman

Archbishop of Canterbury

Why did Henry VIII form the Church of England?

The video thumbnail image includes a 17th century artwork showing men fighting at a gambling table, surrounded by a Christmas garland and overlaid on a photograph of a snowy forest.

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Topics

High Church Low Church Anglicanism Convocations of Canterbury and York Nonjuror congé d’élire latitudinarian Protestantism Calvinism Lutheranism Baptist Methodism Church of Christ free church The Protestant Heritage Society of Friends Pietism Congregationalism

Key People

Joan Bocher

English Anabaptist

Elizabeth I

Elizabeth I

queen of England

Hans Holbein the Younger: Portrait of Henry VIII of England

Henry VIII

king of England

Hans Holbein the Younger: Sir Thomas More

Thomas More

English humanist and statesman

Newman, John Henry

St. John Henry Newman

British theologian

Saint John Fisher

English priest

John Biddle

English theologian

Manning, Henry Edward

Henry Edward Manning

British cardinal

William George Ward, engraving

William George Ward

British theologian

Whiston, oil painting by an unknown artist after a portrait by Sarah Hoadly, c. 1720; in the National Portrait Gallery, London

William Whiston

Anglican priest and mathematician

John Whitgift

archbishop of Canterbury

Lodowick Muggleton

English religious leader

William Cunningham, detail of a portrait by Eric Kennington, 1908; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.

William Cunningham

British economist

Frederick William Faber, engraving by Joseph Brown

Frederick William Faber

British theologian

Richard Hooker, engraving by E. Finden after a print by W. Hollar.

Richard Hooker

English theologian

John Jewel, portrait by an unknown artist; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.

John Jewel

English bishop

Andrewes, Lancelot

Lancelot Andrewes

English theologian

Cyril Forster Garbett

British archbishop

Holy week. Easter. Valladolid. Procession of Nazarenos carry a cross during the Semana Santa (Holy week before Easter) in Valladolid, Spain. Good Friday

Christianity Quiz

If You'd Only Be My Valentine, American Valentine card, 1910. Cupid gathers a basket of red hearts from a pine tree which, in the language of flowers represents daring. Valentine's Day St. Valentine's Day February 14 love romance history and society heart In Roman mythology Cupid was the son of Venus, goddess of love (Eros and Aphrodite in the Greek Pantheon).

The Love Quiz