The Church of England’s Imminent Death Brings Opportunities

[Gnarwhal]

I do not mean to sound triumphalist at all in drawing your attention to the terminal status of this rival church. I was raised in a conservative Episcopalian family, now a laughable contradiction, and before I abandoned it for teenage rebellion, I loved that church. In fact, setting questions of sacrament and doctrine aside, I preferred it to many of the liturgies I attend now as a Catholic. It felt like a full expression of the English-speaking Christian heritage, connecting you to something bigger, older, and firmer—similar to the pull that brings many to the Latin Mass. So, rather than cheap mockery, I point out this death because I think it presents a few great opportunities for Catholics.​

The Church of England’s Imminent Death Brings Opportunities

 

[thecolorsblend]

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[Gnarwhal]

I've never read this guy's work before, but he and I are 100% on the same wavelength. I like where his head's at.

 

[Silverback]

I do not mean to sound triumphalist at all in drawing your attention to the terminal status of this rival church. I was raised in a conservative Episcopalian family, now a laughable contradiction, and before I abandoned it for teenage rebellion, I loved that church. In fact, setting questions of sacrament and doctrine aside, I preferred it to many of the liturgies I attend now as a Catholic. It felt like a full expression of the English-speaking Christian heritage, connecting you to something bigger, older, and firmer—similar to the pull that brings many to the Latin Mass. So, rather than cheap mockery, I point out this death because I think it presents a few great opportunities for Catholics.​

The Church of England’s Imminent Death Brings Opportunities

The church of England will not die out, there will still be falling away just like the NT say's but the gospel will not disappear in the UK.

When I was looking for a "reasonable" church I attended many services at the local Episcopal Church, and you are correct the Book of Common Prayer contains the most beautiful liturgies ever written.

In the end, the Lutherans (LCMS) won out, this was the late 1990's and the liberal policies were already visible, and I just could not go there.

 

[Gnarwhal]

The church of England will not die out, there will still be falling away just like the NT say's but the gospel will not disappear in the UK.

When I was looking for a "reasonable" church I attended many services at the local Episcopal Church, and you are correct the Book of Common Prayer contains the most beautiful liturgies ever written.

In the end, the Lutherans (LCMS) won out, this was the late 1990's and the liberal policies were already visible, and I just could not go there.

No the gospel won't disappear but it won't be the established Church of England that's offering it (or any of it's branches overseas in communion with them).

 

[PloverWing]

No the gospel won't disappear but it won't be the established Church of England that's offering it (or any of it's branches overseas in communion with them).

Are you predicting the demise even of conservative members of the Anglican Communion like the Church of Nigeria?

 

[Bob Crowley]

I often talk about "my old pastor" as he was so prophetic.

He died in January 1992, but amongst his thoughts were that Western Europe would go "Moslem". It would be more political than religious, probably driven by the need for energy.

The Vatican would be forced to move to South America, where Spanish and Portuguese missionaries and colonists set up Catholicism right through the continent - I'd assume Rio de Janeiro as the center, with it's enormous statue of Christ looking down from the mountain.

He thought Russia would revert to the Orthodox Church, which is already happening, although the wall had come down before he died.

And he thought Britain would revert to Catholicism.

If it does, I fail to see why the better parts of the Anglican liturgy could not be retained. There needs to be some give and take on both sides.

 

[Gnarwhal]

If it does, I fail to see why the better parts of the Anglican liturgy could not be retained. There needs to be some give and take on both sides.

I mean they essentially already have in the Ordinariate's assimilation of English patrimony, I suppose their Divine Worship would be adopted more broadly in the UK as the standard form of Mass. Which would be glorious, it's the standard for a vernacular Mass IMO.

 

[Silverback]

I often talk about "my old pastor" as he was so prophetic.

He died in January 1992, but amongst his thoughts were that Western Europe would go "Moslem". It would be more political than religious, probably driven by the need for energy.

The Vatican would be forced to move to South America, where Spanish and Portuguese missionaries and colonists set up Catholicism right through the continent - I'd assume Rio de Janeiro as the center, with it's enormous statue of Christ looking down from the mountain.

He thought Russia would revert to the Orthodox Church, which is already happening, although the wall had come down before he died.

And he thought Britain would revert to Catholicism.

If it does, I fail to see why the better parts of the Anglican liturgy could not be retained. There needs to be some give and take on both sides.

Europe going Muslim...very possible, as a whole, they have lost their footing. I do believe some Christians would still remain.