Figure 1.--The Church of England is the Anglican Church formed by King Henry VIII when he broke away from the Catholic Church during the Reformation (16th century). Here we see the Anglican boy bishop custom during February 7, 1954. It shows the inside of a small Anglican Church and Anglican liturgical garments including altar boys. The press caption read, "The young bishop stands in the center of the altar flanked by attendants and members of the Chapter, all looking apprppriately serious for the occassion."

England is a largely Christian country. The Church of England (Anglicans/Episcopalians) is the established church and a Protestant denomination. There are several other Protestant denominations. The Puritans were a disenter group who helped found America. The Methodists developed in England and played a major role in the English abolitionist movement. The Pesbeterians devloped from Scottish origins. Another denominations were the Baptists, but they proved more important in America. There are also English Catholics. They included English who refused to accept the Protestant Church of England during the Reformation. Since the Potato Famine, large numbers of Irish people, mostly Catholic, have emigrated to England. While most English people are culturaly Christian. Church attendance is very low and large numbers of English people are nom-believers. America and Britain are similar in various ways, but this is a basic difference. A small Jewish population established itself in England during the Middle Ages. They were eventually expelled in the late- Middle Ages. but gradually returned in small numbers. Larger numbers arrived with the Russian anti-Semetic campaigns (late-19th century). As a result of the British Empire, small numbers of colonial subjects emigrated to England. Most of the emigrants from South Asia were Muslims. Substantial numbers of people from South Asians emigranted after World War II when the British began to dissable the Empire. Because of the high birth rate of these comminities, the populations have been increasing. As a result, Islam has become an important English religion. And unlike Christians, the Muslims are often quite fervent in their religious convictions. They have also shown a disinclination to meld into the larger English society and culture.

Christianity

England is a largely Christian country at least culturally. Christianity was intriduced by the Romans. After the fall of Rome and Anglo-Saxon invasions, the country had to be re-chritinized. The Church of England (Anglicans/Episcopalians) is the established church and a Protestant denomination. The Anglicans or Church of England was founded by King Henry VIII in a dispute over divorce with the Catholic Church (16th century). The Anglican Church was an important source of support for the Ctown, but would play a major role in the Glorious Revolution (17th century). There are several other important Protestant denominations in England. Dissenters played an important role in both the English Civil War and the settlement of North America. The Puritans were a disenter group who helped found America. The Methodists developed in England, named after their methodical Bible study. They played a major role in the English abolitionist movement. The Presbyterians devloped from Scottish origins. Another denominations were the Baptists, but they proved more important in America. There are also English Catholics. They included English who refused to accept the Protestant Church of England during the Reformation. Since the Potato Famine, large numbers of Irish people, mostly Catholic, have emigrated to England. While most English people are culturaly Christian. Church attendance is very low and large numbers of English people are non-believers. America and Britain are similar in various ways, but this is a basic difference with historical roots in the dissenters who help found New England. It is interesting that the established Anglican COE Church is today probably the least dynamic of all the Christian denominations in England.

Judaism

Surely over 300 years of Roman occupation, some Jews must have reached Britain. There are, however, no written records. The Jews would have been largely urban. The Anglo-Saxon invaders destoyed the urban culture of Roman Britain and this probably included the Jews in those towns. We know there were Jews in Anglo-Saxon Britain, in part because there were laws concerning Jews. We do not, however, have details on Jewish communities are know where these Jews came from. There are written records of Jewish during the Norman era. Some Jews arrived with William the Conqueror (1066). Anti-semitism developed in England as in the rest of Western Europe. The accusation of the Blood libel appears to have originated in England (12th century). Edward I expelled England's Jews (1290). Thus for nearly four centuries there were no Jews permitted in England, although a small number apparently practiced their religion in secret. A small group of Sephardic Jews were uncovered in Londpn during the Civil war era (1656). Lord Proctor Oliver Cromwell decided not to expell them, in part because of his financial situation. Even so, the prohibition on Jews was not rescinded. The Jewish population continued to be very small. The concern over emancipation was shown with the Jew Bill (1753). The process of emancipation was gradual, but the kep step was probably allowing Jews to become members of Parliament (1858). One of England's greatest priminister was Benjamin Disreali. Full emancipation was not achieved until later (1890s). These steps and the absence of violence aimed at Jews gradually resulted in England acquiring a reputation for tolerance. Englad's Jewish population remained relatively small. With the rise of the NAZIs in Germany, Jews began fleeing Germany and areas seized by the Germans (Austria and Czechoslovakia, England allowed only small numbers of Jews to enter (1930s). An exception was the Kindertransport children. Britain's Jews were spared the Holocaust, because the Germans were unable to invade. The Germans did arrest and deport Jews from the Channel Islabds. Britain's small Jewish community is today vibrant even with rising abti-semitism.

Islam

As a result of the British Empire, small numbers of colonial subjects emigrated to England. Most of the emigrants from South Asia were Muslims. Substantial numbers of people from South Asians emigranted after World War II when the British began to dissable the Empire. Because of the high birth rate of these comminities, the populations have been increasing. As a result, Islam has become an important English religion. And unlike Christians, the Muslims are often quite fervent in their religious convictions. They have also shown a disinclination to meld into the larger English society and culture. Tony Blair's Labour Government approved the creation of state-financed Islamic schools which has increased the trend toward separation. This is a trend that the BBC in the spirit of multi-culturalism has for years avoided reporting on in its news programming. The BBC 'News and Panorama' which is the BBC equivalent of CBS' '60 minutes' did an important report on the Saudi Curricula in British Muslim faith schools (November 2010). This is a rare criticism of Islam and effort and a serious effort to address core issues.

Created: 3:36 AM 11/26/2010
Last updated: 3:36 AM 11/26/2010