Can someone explain the ifference between Anglo-Catholic and Church of England please.

[LilRedWG]

I've just returned from church, a church I always believed to be CofE. The vicar told me that it is actually Anglo-Catholic.

Is this the same as high-church?

Yes, Anglo-catholic is the same as high-church, and is still usually CofE.

here

Anglo Catholics, priests will hear confessions, protestants don't usually do confession

Anglo-Catholics are indeed part of the CofE. Some would say that they are at the high end of high church.

Anglo Catholics preach some of the Roman Catholic doctrines and tend to incorporate traditions like incense and Latin into servcies, but within C of E .

Thanks all. You've confirmed what I thought - high church but with a bit extra. It is indeed a lovely church and the services are great.

Anglican doctrine is based on Scripture, Reason, Tradition.

In Anglo-catholic worship, they put great emphasis on Holy Tradition (eg the teachings of the Early Church Fathers) and reject much of the Reformation.

The are not under the authority of the Pope, therefore are not Roman Catholic, but they do sympathise with much Catholic doctrine, such as Marian devotions, reservation of the Sacrament, rosaries, etc.

Anglo-Catholic does not mean High Church, as this term refers to worship style rather than doctrine. However, the vast majority of AC parishes will be High, simply because of their beliefs on tradition (so will have robed clergy, processions, sign of the cross, incense, etc.).

AC worship is often higher up the candle than RC.

AC is higher that the Pope, and it has all of Catholicism except the Pope.

Thanks. Am still a little confused, but I think that's just me being thick.

Don't worry about it. It is CofE, in many ways that's all you need to know!

What's the definition of a church if you can have two offical sets of doctrines within one?. To me that means they are two churches that believe different things.

Suely the only difference between catholic and baptist (for example) is that they preach different doctrines

Baptist aren't C of E. Anglican is always C of E but there are protestants and catholics within the church.

Thank you both for clarifying that

I'm not surprised that it's about loyalty to a human organisation rather than a particular set of beliefs as that's been clear for some time. I suppose I'm just surprised that it is openly held to be true and no one sees anything odd in that.

In the long run I think I must see this as a good thing.

Message withdrawn

The Church of England has a duty to minister to everyone living in a parish, and everyone in England does live in a parish.

This means that there has to be a broad churchmanship with the Church of England.

All clergy should adhere to the 39 Articles of Faith, but not all anglo catholic ones do, and some liberals are iffy about believing in the virgin birth and resurrection. This has caused some evangelicals to leave the church over the past few hundred years and form their own (methodists, baptists, etc.). It's pretty sad not to want to share communion with other Christians over petty differences, imv.

Some anglo-catholics describe themselves as "catholics within the church of England"

Basically, they like incense and frocks and large organs - you will find a few who WERE catholics but who left (or were doctrinally forced to leave e.g. divorced or gay) and who find themselves at home within the anglo-catholic parishes

However, there are two very diverse groups of anglo-catholics, the liberals and the conservatives - the liberals tend to be your wooly all-inclusive gay-loving beardies and the conservatives frown on vaginas and men who kiss other men.

So even 'anglo catholic' has a very broad doctrinal spectrum - it is really the love of the liturgy (i.e. incense and frocks) that unites them

whistles and hopes no-one notices that I am AC and formerly RC, whilst having a quick sniff of some rosa mystica ....

(btw does anyone want to see me in my cassock? )

Gongs and smells.

DB's school was high-church and there was always loads of incense and odd and seemingly incomprehensible little bells going off at odd times during his Sunday chapel services.

Incidently, there is nothing in the Common Worship ordination service which requires, priests or deacons to conform to the 39 articles of religion.

MorningPaper you should be a RE teacher

This is very interesting actually because I am reading a biog of John Betjeman and it refers to him being Anglo Catholic, I has assumed it meant high church, I am glad to have a bit more elaboration.

This is really interesting. I almost regret not asking the viar but am glad now that I asked you guys as I'm getting a wider view.

Father Gary (our vicar) loves his frocks.