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==History==
==History==


According to legend the Church of Ireland traces back to the ancient [[Celtic Christianity|Celtic Church]] in Ireland, which was founded at [[Paris, France|Paris]] by disciples of [[Philip the Apostle|St. Phillip]] c. AD 108 and expanded into [[Britain]] and Ireland shortly thereafter. This claim, though widely repeated, is unsupported by historical record and appears to be a late medieval construction intended to bolster the authority of the church.
The Church of Ireland traces back to the ancient [[Celtic Christianity|Celtic Church]] in [[Ireland]] and [[Britain]]. This claim, though widely repeated, is unsupported by historical record and appears to be a late medieval construction intended to bolster the authority of the [[Roman Catholic Church]].


A monastically-centred institution, the Celtic Church had a unique calendar and usages, but was a full part of the wider Western Church, retaining a strong focus on pilgrimage to Rome. In 1166, with papal backing, [[Henry II of England]] approved Norman lords in Ireland supporting [[Dermot MacMurrough]]'s reclaiming of his Leinster kingdom and in 1171 Henry came to Ireland and was made "Overlord" of Ireland. It is unclear how much this was connected to Henry's embassy to the English [[Pope Adrian IV]] in 1154. An alternative explanation is that Henry was paying a life-debt to [[Pope Alexander III]] for the murder of [[Thomas Beckett]], the Archbishop of Canterbury, by four of Henry's knights in 1170. Henry's activities in Ireland probably strenthened the moves away from a distinctively Celtic church structure, although this move was principally down to [[Saint Malachy]], who was Archbishop of Armagh more than 20 years earlier (1132-1138).
A monastically-centred institution, the Celtic Church had a unique calendar and usages, but was a full part of the wider Western Church, retaining a strong focus on pilgrimage to Rome. In 1166, with papal backing, [[Henry II of England]] approved Norman lords in Ireland supporting [[Dermot MacMurrough]]'s reclaiming of his Leinster kingdom and in 1171 Henry came to Ireland and was made "Overlord" of Ireland.


In [[1536]] [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] had the Irish Parliament declare him head of the Irish Church, so breaking with the [[Holy See]]. Later, in [[1541]], he had the same parliament declare him King of Ireland. When the [[Church of England]] travelled in a more [[Protestant]] direction under [[Edward VI of England|Edward VI]] so too did the Church of Ireland; unlike in England, however, [[Roman Catholicism]] remained the majority religion in Ireland.
In [[1536]] [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] had the Irish Parliament declare him head of the Irish Church, therefore breaking with the [[Papacy]]. When the [[Church of England]] travelled in a more [[Protestant]] direction under [[Edward VI of England|Edward VI]] so too did the Church of Ireland; unlike in England, however, [[Roman Catholicism]] remained the majority religion in Ireland.


As before the [[Reformation]], some clergymen of the Irish Church sat as [[Lord Spiritual|Lords Spiritual]] in the [[Irish House of Lords]]; under the provisions of the [[Act of Union 1800]], one archbishop and the three bishops chosen by rotation would be Lords Spiritual in the newly united [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]] [[House of Lords]] in Westminster, joining the two archbishops ([[Archbishop of Canterbury|Canterbury]] and [[Archbishop of York|York]]) and the twenty-four bishops from the [[Church of England]].
As before the [[Reformation]], some clergymen of the Irish Church sat as [[Lord Spiritual|Lords Spiritual]] in the [[Irish House of Lords]]; under the provisions of the [[Act of Union 1800]], one archbishop and the three bishops chosen by rotation would be Lords Spiritual in the newly united [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]] [[House of Lords]] in Westminster, joining the two archbishops ([[Archbishop of Canterbury|Canterbury]] and [[Archbishop of York|York]]) and the twenty-four bishops from the [[Church of England]].

Revision as of 23:23, 17 May 2006

The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion, operating seamlessly across the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is the largest Protestant Church in the Republic of Ireland and the second largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland.

The church considers itself to be in direct succession from Ireland's ancient Celtic Christianity. When Henry VIII and the Church of England broke with the Pope, the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland underwent Reformation; and so the Church remains heir, in its cathedrals and churches, to much of the island's medieval heritage. Although the Roman Catholic Church remained the church of the majority of the populace, the Church of Ireland was the established church until 1871.

History

The Church of Ireland traces back to the ancient Celtic Church in Ireland and Britain. This claim, though widely repeated, is unsupported by historical record and appears to be a late medieval construction intended to bolster the authority of the Roman Catholic Church.

A monastically-centred institution, the Celtic Church had a unique calendar and usages, but was a full part of the wider Western Church, retaining a strong focus on pilgrimage to Rome. In 1166, with papal backing, Henry II of England approved Norman lords in Ireland supporting Dermot MacMurrough's reclaiming of his Leinster kingdom and in 1171 Henry came to Ireland and was made "Overlord" of Ireland.

In 1536 Henry VIII had the Irish Parliament declare him head of the Irish Church, therefore breaking with the Papacy. When the Church of England travelled in a more Protestant direction under Edward VI so too did the Church of Ireland; unlike in England, however, Roman Catholicism remained the majority religion in Ireland.

As before the Reformation, some clergymen of the Irish Church sat as Lords Spiritual in the Irish House of Lords; under the provisions of the Act of Union 1800, one archbishop and the three bishops chosen by rotation would be Lords Spiritual in the newly united United Kingdom House of Lords in Westminster, joining the two archbishops (Canterbury and York) and the twenty-four bishops from the Church of England.

The Church of Ireland is historically closer to the teachings of Welsh-born St Patrick than any other of the Protestant denominations.

Though the religion of a minority of 21st Century Irish people, it remained the official religion of Ireland, until its disestablishment by an 1869 Act of Parliament came into effect in 1871. Previously, it had been funded by tithes, taxes that all, whether Anglican or not, were obliged to pay to it. The representation of the Church in the House of Lords also ceased.

To deal with its new situation, it made provision in 1870 for its own government (General Synod) and financial management (Representative Church Body). Like other Irish churches, it did not divide when Ireland was partitioned in 1920, and continues to be governed on an all-island basis, with twelve dioceses organized as two provinces (Armagh and Dublin).

The Church of Ireland today

The contemporary Church of Ireland, despite having a number of High Church (often described as Anglo-Catholic) parishes, is generally on the Protestant end of the spectrum of world Anglicanism. Historically, it had little of the difference in churchmanship between parishes characteristic of other Anglican Provinces, although a number of more markedly liberal, High Church or evangelical parishes have developed in recent decades. It was the second province of the Anglican Communion after the Anglican Church of New Zealand (1857) to adopt, on its 1871 disestablishment, synodical government, and was one of the first provinces to ordain women to the priesthood, in 1991.

The Church is structured on a model inherited from pre-Reformation times. The Primate of All Ireland is the Archbishop of Armagh, whose seat is the medieval Saint Patrick's Anglican Cathedral, Armagh. (There is also a Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and a Victorian Saint Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Armagh.) The Church is organised on diocesan or bishopric lines. The Archbishop of Dublin, like his Catholic counterpart, is called the Primate of Ireland. The existence of two primates is quite unrelated to the political division of the island, predating this by several centuries; and the boundary between their provinces does not follow the political boundary.

Canon law and Church policy are decided by its General Synod, and changes in policy must be passed by both the House of Bishops and the House of Representatives (Clergy and Laity). Important changes, e.g. the decision to ordain female priests, must be passed by two-thirds majorities. While the House of Representatives always votes publicly, often by orders, the House of Bishops has tended to vote in private, coming to a decision before matters reach the floor of the Synod. This practice has been broken only once, when in 1999 the House of Bishops voted unanimously in public to endorse the efforts of the Archbishop of Armagh, the Diocese of Armagh and the Standing Committee of the General Synod of the Church of Ireland in their attempts to resolve the crisis at the Church of the Ascension at Drumcree, near Portadown.

The current Archbishop of Armagh is Archbishop Robin Eames, who is due to retire at the end of 2006. (He is also called Lord Eames, having been appointed to the House of Lords as a life peer). The Archbishop of Dublin is Archbishop John Neill.

The Church of Ireland experienced major decline during the 20th Century, both in Northern Ireland, where 75% of its members live, and in the Republic of Ireland. However, recent censuses shown an unexpected increase in Church Membership membership, the first in almost a century. This is largely explained by the great number of Anglican immigrants who moved to Ireland, particularly from Africa; but some parishes, especially in middle-class areas of the larger cities, report a number of former Roman Catholics joining. There are a number of clergy originally ordained for the Roman Catholic church who have now become Church of Ireland clergy. Ex-Roman Catholic lay members are amongst the most dedicated and active members of the church and many go forward for ordination.

The Church has two cathedrals in Dublin: within the walls of the old city is Christ Church Cathedral, the seat of the Archbishop, and just outside the old walls is St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Church's National Cathedral of Ireland.

Current Bishops

  • Michael Mayes, Limerick, Ardfert, Aghadoe, Killaloe, Kilmacduagh and Emly

Irish Anglicans

Members of the Church of Ireland include or have included:

See also

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