Speaking as an Anglican, I’d say what you did was fine. I’ve seen a couple of very traditionalist RCs who would reverence our altar/tabernacle, just as our parishioners would. When I’d say that given what the RCC says about Anglican orders, there was no need for that, the answer was “Don’t want to take a chance”.
I was not really sure what to do, or if I should do anything at all, so I just made a slight bow and that was it. I did not make the Sign of the Cross, and I did not pray in the church. Maybe I shouldn’t have done anything.
Even if you assume that all Anglican ordinations are invalid, there is always the case of ex-Catholic priests joining the Anglican Church. As far as I know, the consecration in the Anglican service under such circumstances would be presumed valid. Remember that the Protestant Reformation was led by a validly-ordained Catholic priest.
*anglicansonline.org/basics/thirty-nine_articles.html
The Articles are not binding, unless they are in some sense adopted by, any Anglican/Anglican church, generally, save only (in a technical and not enforced sense) on clergy of the Church of England, IAW the Subscription Act of 1571. Anglicans, generally, are free to affirm, partially affirm, or deny them, or remove from their prayer books and use them to kindle the new fire at Easter. They are not a general Anglican confession, but politics as theology; how Elizabeth I chose to control her fractious Church in fractious times.
Customs vary, in that some Anglicans will do this, and some won’t. Some Anglo-Catholics will do the same as a Roman Catholic in a Roman Catholic church.
Motley, them Anglicans be, as we say around here. Variable, indeed.
Well, in any case, they are historically the official doctrine of the Church of England, at least for the hierarchy, wouldn’t you say? But I didn’t mean to say that all Anglicans hold a Calvinist view of the eucharist, only that Anglicans do not necessarily believe everything Catholic believe, and that a visitor to an Anglican church should not expect to offend everyone by failing to observe Catholic customs. In my experience, I have never been in an Anglican church where people have made bows and genuflections. Not that this means there are none, only that it is not the general rule.
I’ve been to many different churches in tourist areas and have witnessed all sorts of behavior from visitors. It sounds as if you conducted yourself in a polite, respectful manner - which is more than some people do. You do not believe as the Anglicans do, so displays of reverence from you would not be appropriate or expected. Just like a non-Catholic tourist should not be expected be behave reverently in a Catholic church. In both cases, however, everyone should behave in a respectful manner, no matter what their beliefs.
Agree. Sacred space should always be acknowledged as such. Some communities ask you to revere as they do - heads covered, shoes off, etc. Others ask for very little. But I try to be at least respectful of what is considered holy.
And Anglicans do not necessarily believe everything the Articles assert. As noted.
I await the reply.