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

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Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell in Wolf Hall a 2015 BBC TV Mini Series. drama, television, England in the 1520s, Henry VIII

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Queen Elizabeth II on her Coronation Day (June 2, 1953) holding the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross in her right hand the Orb in her left, in an embroidered and beaded dress by Norman Hartnell, a crimson velvet mantle edged with ermine fur, with the Coronation ring, the Coronation necklace, and the Imperial State Crown. The backdrop depicts the interior of Westminster Abbey; photograph by Cecil Beaton. (British royals)

5 Fascinating British Coronation Objects

Currier & Ives, the Bloomer costume influenced by Amelia Bloomer who began appearing in public wearing full-cut pantaloons, or "Turkish trousers," under a short skirt nicknamed "bloomers."

12 Influencers Throughout History

poem. A poet in a Heian period kimono writes Japanese poetry during the Kamo Kyokusui No En Ancient Festival at Jonan-gu shrine on April 29, 2013 in Kyoto, Japan. Festival of Kyokusui-no Utage orignated in 1,182, party Heian era (794-1192).

World Poetry Day

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Figure 13: A Maxim machine gun, belt-fed and water-cooled, operated by German infantrymen, World War I.

7 Deadliest Weapons in History

NBA Lakers Celtics Finals Kevin Garnett shooting.

10 Great Sports Rivalries

Queen Elizabeth II addresses at opening of Parliament. (Date unknown on photo, but may be 1958, the first time the opening of Parliament was filmed.)

All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained

Normandy Invasion: Omaha Beach. World War II. D-Day. Infographic. SPOTLIGHT VERSION

Facts and Figures About the Landings on Omaha Beach During the Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944

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Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Italian Renaissance painter from Florence. Engraving by Cosomo Colombini (d. 1812) after a Leonardo self portrait. Ca. 1500.

10 Famous Artworks by Leonardo da Vinci

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Church of England: Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Jun 10, 2025

News •

Lord’s Prayer more recognised than famous Star Wars phrase, Church of England polls finds • June 6, 2025, 10:26 PM ET (The Telegraph)

Seven Church of England clergy to face disciplinary action • June 6, 2025, 2:45 AM ET (BBC)

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

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

Key People

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

Joan Bocher

English Anabaptist

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

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

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

Demystified

Candles Burning On Table In Church

What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?