Bill: The Anglican Church is no longer the state church of England

baron Paul Scriven (57) He introduced a bill to the British Parliament to ensure that the Church of England (Anglican Church) was no longer the state church. He describes the fact that this is still the case today as an “anachronism”: “The privileged position of the Church is outdated and unacceptable.” “We no longer live in the 16th century,” said the British Lord, a member of the Liberal Democrats and a life member of the British House of Lords.

Since the 1980s, the proportion of Anglicans in the British population has fallen from 40% to just over 20%. The National Secular Society, which has campaigned for the separation of church and state since its founding in 1866, welcomes the proposal. In the Church of England there are supporters and opponents.

The Anglican Church has been the state church since its founding in the 16th century. This position left a strong religious and political mark on the history of England. Partly for this reason, King Charles was also given the title Defender of the Faith when he took office, an honorary title given to Pope Leo. Henry VIII (1509-1547), which the English kings continued to carry after that.

Charles He gave this honorary title a more modern interpretation when he took office, although, as was customary, he was also sworn in by Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury. Officially he remains the head of the Church of England, although this function is actually carried out by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

By the way, put Rowan WilliamsThe former Archbishop of Canterbury committed himself in 2014 to loosening ties between the Anglican Church and the state. This ensured, among other things, that decisions of the Church of England no longer needed to be ratified by Parliament. But revoking the status also has practical consequences. For example, 26 Church of England bishops are legally entitled to a seat in the House of Lords, which also gives them a say as secular legislators.