Officially how old is the Diocese of Canterbury (Church of England) in the UK?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Krisdun
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Augustine was consecrated bishop in 597.

The diocese has continued to exist to this day, Justin Welby is the 105th holder of the see.
 
But the Church of England did not exist until 1534? I am rather confused as to how a CoE diocese can officially be older than the church it belongs to?
 
The turning point came with Cranmer. He was Archbishop of Canterbury for 22 years, from 1533 to 1555. He was the last Catholic archbishop of Canterbury and the first Anglican archbishop of Canterbury.

 
The Catholic Canterbury diocese and Anglican Canterbury diocese I assume were two different dioceses belonging to two distinct churches. But interesting to know nonetheless that one man switched from being a bishop of one church to another. I wonder what Thomas Cranmer truly thought about it all deep down at the time?
 
jesusmademe said:
He is not even a Bishop! St Leo XIII says so!
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Yes indeed. So he did. On the other hand the OP asked about the CofE which, as I am sure you are aware, holds a different opinion. Catholics, of course, will follow Leo in this matter.
 
Krisdun said:
The Catholic Canterbury diocese and Anglican Canterbury diocese I assume were two different dioceses belonging to two distinct churches. But interesting to know nonetheless that one man switched from being a bishop of one church to another. I wonder what Thomas Cranmer truly thought about it all deep down at the time?
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No, it was the same diocese, but it passed from the control of the Pope and became an Anglican diocese.
 
No, there were never two dioceses of Canterbury at the same time. Henry VIII, with Cranmer’s help, broke away from Rome, declaring himself the “Supreme Governor” of the Catholic Church in England. It was a Declaration of (Ecclesiastical) Independence. Henry considered himself a faithful Catholic. The transition to a Protestant theology came later. Cranmer seems to have been a closet Lutheran all along.
 
It would be interesting to see what happens to current CoE dioceses in England if the CoE was to split (which is a real possibility).
 
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Many CoE parishes object to having women bishops for example, or disagree on the issue of homosexuality. With such contrasting views it may be difficult to keep the CoE together as one ‘broad’ church…
 
As, we always say, they should, at the appropriate level of theological certainty.
 
OK, but …

1 The CofE goes to great lengths to allow space for those who differ from the official view on the ordination of women. Those who have found that space insufficient may well have left already. I suggest that is no longer a schism issue (at least until there is a woman Archbishop). At present the CofE has a rather traditional policy on homosexuality and, yes, we shall see how that develops.

2 But it seems to me much more likely that such matters will lead to individuals taking their faith journey elsewhere than dioceses splitting off in the US way.
 
Supreme Head, in Henrys case.

1534 Act of Supremacy.
 
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Yes indeed. I had forgotten the approved wording about theological certainty. 🙂
 
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No, it’s pretty much doing that. Power struggles are about over.
 
PickyPicky said:
2 But it seems to me much more likely that such matters will lead to individuals taking their faith journey elsewhere than dioceses splitting off in the US way.
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It is possible yes although it would be a difficult decision to make for both clergy and lay people to join a different church be it Roman Catholic or Orthodox for example.
 
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