CoE when Catholic

[Givingup2025]

Hi all, I just wondered if I could get some guidance from you. I was born and raised Catholic, then walked away from the church in my teens and came back when I was around 30. I started CoE as it was in my local village but it didn't feel right. My godmother then passed and I felt drawn to the Catholic faith. I started going to my old church which is a 45 minute drive away and do enjoy it but now we have a child the drive is getting too much.

My son is due to start school in September in our local village. It is a faith school and I'm so pleased as it is important to me. I'm torn now however. The school is linked to the village church and they do a lot together. Having looked at the website of the village church, it has a new vicar, has family service pet services youth groups and forest church. My son would love this.

But my dilemma. It's CoE and I'm Catholic and my son has been baptised Catholic. I don't know what to do. I feel like im "cheating" on my catholic side by going to a CoE church even though I know it all falls under the umbrella of Christianity!

Any advice at all? Anyone been in a similar circumstance?

Thanks in advance :)

I am CofE. DH is Catholic. DSs were baptised in DHs parish church and had a service of blessing for a baby on my CofE parish church the same day. They sometimes go to church with him, sometimes with me and sometimes we go together.
Both priests are fully aware of and support our approach and are always welcoming. The boys have done FHC and now take communion when they come to church with me. DH just comes up for a Blessing. The services are very similar (although different hymns). They will wait to do Confirmation until they are older than usual in either Church so that they can decide for themselves.
I guess you've been to the service already, but if not then maybe mention to the priest/various members of the PCC who are likely to come and say hello. I'm sure they'll encourage you just to come up for a Blessing if that makes you feel more comfortable than taking Communion.
Our Church is active in the community running toddler groups with many families who don't attend church, the hall is used for Scouts and Guides etc so it's definitely worth saying hello.
It's alo worth noting that in CofE it's not necessary to attend Mass every week so you may find lots of people who go less regularly.

Would you be able to switch it up a bit and go to the CofE church once and month and the Catholic church the rest of the time?
I'm Cof E but actually considering converting to Catholicism (starting RCIA in Sept!). In terms of belief and wold view, I'm just Catholic to my bones and I can't hide it any more 😂My family (mum and dad and brother and niece) are fervently CofE and I have a son the same age as yours. I'm planning to go to the Catholic church weekly but also go to the CofE main Sunday service with my son once a month or so, in order to maintain links with the community and so that my son can experience worship with the wider family (those days I'll just have to get up super early and go to Catholic Mass first I guess!). It's a bit easier for me than it is for you because I live in a big city and the Catholic church is 20mins walk in one direction and the CofE one is 10mins on the bus) I think it's healthy and fine for kids to have exposure to a range of Christian denominations.
As a current Anglican I can tell you two things - first, you would be super welcome in an Anglican church and you are welcome to take communion. Second, Anglicans are pretty relaxed about attendance and it's fairly normal and not frowned upon to attend church once or twice a month. You can be part of the church in a more fluid way and still get to know people in the local community.
All the best with whatever you decide, and for what it's worth it's great that you are giving serious thought to this. Don't neglect your own spiritual path though - if you truly do orientate Catholic, don't feel like you have to abandon that!

Thank you so much for this lovely post.

we went to our CoE church two Sundays ago and we were so welcome it catered much more for our son who just spent the whole time colouring and doing puzzles! They do a forest church which we are trying this week and I couldn’t believe how comfortable I felt!

I think what we will do is try and do one Catholic service a month (to be honest we were only doing 1-2 a month because of distance anyway) and the rest at CoE.

I did feel like I was cheating on being a Catholic when I first went tk the church but now feel a lot more comfortable. I even explained that we were catholics and everyone was so welcoming and interested!

Hi catechist here and church liturgy teacher and Faith formation in my RC church and teacher in a secular school 3 of my children went to Catholic Primary School and 1 went to CofE school.
See it as CofE schools teach about Christianity and their ethos is the Christian faith. RC schools will teach it as the faith if that makes sense. As the parent you are the main teacher and if you feel drawn to the CofE school then choose the school suited to your child if you feel happy. CofE is broad and they will have a culture of Christianity. The sacraments of FHC etc and the liturgical practise can come from you and your attendance at Mass weekly if that’s what you’re doing. Many non Christian and other faith children attend CofE schools and it is not an issue. Likewise Catholic schools.
However if you can’t square that circle yourself then maybe a Catholic school.

my youngest now goes to a secular school or community school as the LA placed him there. His faith comes from home and church so don’t worry too much xxx

Yes, I don't think a C.of E. church has to be High Anglican in order to have communion. If the service is a 'communion' or a 'eucharist' there will be bread and, I would expect, wine.

The word catholic gets thrown around a lot. Mostly when people say they are Catholics they mean Roman Catholics.

Edited for punctuation.

I am (was is maybe a better word) Presbyterian and I sent my kids to a Catholic school. I don’t think your betraying anyone - God is God no matter what branch of Christianity you are apart of.