Anglo-Catholicism

Anglo-Catholicism
Name	Anglo-Catholicism
Caption	Interior of the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford, a noted Anglo-Catholic parish.
Classification	High church
Orientation	Anglicanism
Polity	Episcopal polity
Founder	Influenced by the Oxford Movement
Founded date	19th century
Separated from	Evangelical and Latitudinarian wings of Anglicanism
Associations	The Church of England, Anglican Communion

Anglo-Catholicism. A tradition within Anglicanism that emphasizes the catholic heritage and identity of the Anglican Communion. It finds its roots in the theological revival of the 19th-century Oxford Movement, which sought to reclaim pre-Reformation liturgical and doctrinal elements. Anglo-Catholics generally hold a "high" view of the sacraments, the apostolic succession, and the authority of the Church Fathers.

History and origins

The modern movement crystallized in the 1830s following the publication of "Tracts for the Times" by leaders of the Oxford Movement, such as John Keble, John Henry Newman, and Edward Bouverie Pusey. Key events like Keble's 1833 Assize Sermon on "National Apostasy" are often cited as its beginning. The movement faced significant opposition, leading to controversies like the Gorham Case and the prosecution of ritualists under the Public Worship Regulation Act 1874. Despite this, it spread through influential parishes and theological colleges like St Stephen's House, Oxford and the Community of the Resurrection at Mirfield. The Second Vatican Council later facilitated improved dialogue with Roman Catholicism.

Theological principles

Central theological tenets include the affirmation of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, though specific interpretations may vary from transubstantiation to a more mystical presence. Anglo-Catholics strongly uphold the necessity of apostolic succession through the episcopate and the seven sacraments, not just Baptism and the Eucharist. They accord high authority to the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils and the writings of the Church Fathers, alongside Scripture. The veneration of Mary and the saints, and belief in purgatory as a state of purification, are also commonly held, though diversely expressed.

Liturgical practices and worship

Worship is characterized by ceremonial richness, often described as "High Church" ritual. This includes the use of eucharistic vestments, incense, sacred music like Gregorian chant, and ritual actions such as genuflection. The Book of Common Prayer is used, often supplemented by manuals like the English Missal. The liturgical calendar is closely observed, with emphasis on feasts like the Annunciation and Corpus Christi. Many parishes celebrate the Sarum Rite or adopt elements from modern Roman rites following the Second Vatican Council.

Social and political influence

Historically, many Anglo-Catholics were associated with Tractarianism and later, with Christian social action. The movement influenced the establishment of religious communities such as the Society of St. John the Evangelist and the Community of St. Mary the Virgin. Politically, it contributed to the development of Christian socialism in Britain, with figures like Charles Gore and the Lux Mundi group addressing industrial poverty. Its principles also undergirded missionary work in the British Empire, notably through the Universities' Mission to Central Africa.

Relations with other Christian traditions

Dialogue and occasional tension have marked relations with the Roman Catholic Church, especially since the 1896 papal bull Apostolicae curae which deemed Anglican orders "absolutely null and utterly void". The Anglican–Roman Catholic International Commission has worked on theological reconciliation. Relations with Eastern Orthodoxy have often been cordial, sharing a common esteem for the Church Fathers and liturgy, as seen in the Fellowship of St. Alban and St. Sergius. Within Anglicanism, there have been longstanding tensions with Evangelical and Low Church wings.

Notable figures and societies

Pioneering theologians include Edward Bouverie Pusey, John Keble, and John Henry Newman, who later converted to Roman Catholicism and became a cardinal. Later influential thinkers were Charles Gore of the Lux Mundi school and Gregory Dix, author of "The Shape of the Liturgy". Prominent societies that fostered the movement include the Society of the Holy Cross, the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, and the Church Union. Notable parishes that became centers of practice include All Saints, Margaret Street in London and St. Clement's Church, Philadelphia in the United States.

Category:Anglicanism Category:High church Anglicanism Category:Christian terminology