Church of England

==Structure==
{{see also|Anglican ministry|List of Church of England dioceses}}
[[File:Dioceses of Church of England.svg|thumb|right|Dioceses of the Church of England {{legend|#FFF400|outline=#00|[[Province of Canterbury]]}}{{legend|#FD8F9E|outline=#00|[[Province of York]]}}]]

Article XIX ('Of the Church') of the 39 Articles defines the church as follows:

{{blockquote|The [[Church visible|visible Church of Christ]] is a congregation of faithful men, in which [[Marks of the Church (Protestantism)|the pure Word of God is preached, and the sacraments be duly ministered]] according to Christ's ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071024065315/http://www.churchsociety.org/issues_new/doctrine/39a/iss_doctrine_39A_Arts19-22.asp 39 Articles – 19–22]. Church Society.</ref>}}

[[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|The British monarch]] has the constitutional title of [[Supreme Governor of the Church of England]]. The canon law of the Church of England states, "We acknowledge that the King's most excellent Majesty, acting according to the laws of the realm, is the highest power under God in this kingdom, and has supreme authority over all persons in all causes, as well ecclesiastical as civil."<ref>[https://www.churchofengland.org/about/leadership-and-governance/legal-services/canons-church-england/section#b7] Canon A 7 "Of the Royal Supremacy"</ref> In practice this power is often exercised through [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] and on the advice of the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]].

The [[Church of Ireland]] and the [[Church in Wales]] separated from the Church of England in 1869<ref name="irishchurchact">{{cite web|title=Irish Church Act 1869|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1869/42/enacted|publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom|access-date=10 October 2012}}</ref> and 1920<ref name="wales-heritage">{{cite web|title=Our Heritage: Facing Difficulties|url=http://www.churchinwales.org.uk/life/heritage/awi/part7.php|work=Church in Wales website|access-date=10 October 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325125108/http://www.churchinwales.org.uk/life/heritage/awi/part7.php|archive-date=25 March 2013}}</ref> respectively and are autonomous churches in the Anglican Communion; Scotland's national church, the [[Church of Scotland]], is [[Presbyterian]], but the [[Scottish Episcopal Church]] is part of the Anglican Communion.<ref name="episcopal-history">{{cite web|title=History: The Revolution|url=http://www.scotland.anglican.org/index.php/about/history_chapter/8_the_revolution/|work=Scottish Episcopal Church website|access-date=10 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202195354/http://www.scotland.anglican.org/index.php/about/history_chapter/8_the_revolution/|archive-date=2 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In addition to England, the jurisdiction of the Church of England extends to the [[Isle of Man]], the [[Channel Islands]] and a few parishes in [[Flintshire]], [[Monmouthshire]] and [[Powys]] in Wales [[Church of England border polls 1915–1916|which voted to remain with the Church of England rather than joining the Church in Wales]].<ref>Cross, F. L. (ed.) (1957) Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church; p. 1436</ref> Expatriate congregations on the continent of Europe have become the [[Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe]].

The church is structured as follows (from the lowest level upwards):{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
[[File:TootBaldon StLawrence ParishChurch.JPG|thumb|The parish church of St Lawrence in [[Toot Baldon]] is typical of many small English village churches|alt=]]
* [[Parish]] is the most local level, often consisting of one church building (a [[Church of England parish church|parish church]]) and community, although many parishes are joining forces in a variety of ways for financial reasons. The parish is looked after by a parish [[Anglican priest|priest]] who for historical or legal reasons may be called by one of the following offices: [[vicar]], [[Rector (ecclesiastical)|rector]], [[priest in charge]], team rector, team vicar. The first, second, fourth and fifth of these may also be known as the 'incumbent'. The running of the parish is the joint responsibility of the incumbent and the [[parochial church council]] (PCC), which consists of the parish clergy and elected representatives from the congregation. The Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe is not formally divided into parishes.
* There are a number of local churches that do not have a parish. In urban areas there are a number of [[proprietary chapel]]s (mostly built in the 19th century to cope with urbanisation and growth in population). Also in more recent years there are increasingly [[church plant]]s and [[fresh expression]]s of church, whereby new congregations are planted in locations such as schools or pubs to spread the Gospel of Christ in non-traditional ways.
[[File:Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe.PNG|thumb|right|Map showing the [[Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe]] with the archdeaconries colour-coded]]
* [[Deanery]], ''e.g.'', Lewisham or Runnymede. This is the area for which a [[Rural Dean]] (or area dean) is responsible. It consists of a number of parishes in a particular district. The rural dean is usually the incumbent of one of the constituent parishes. The parishes each elect lay (non-ordained) representatives to the deanery [[synod]]. Deanery synod members each have a vote in the election of representatives to the diocesan synod.
* Archdeaconry, ''e.g.'', the seven in the [[Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe]]. This is the area under the jurisdiction of an [[archdeacon]]. It consists of a number of deaneries.
* [[Diocese]], ''e.g.'', [[Diocese of Durham]], [[Diocese of Guildford]], [[Diocese of St Albans]]. This is the area under the jurisdiction of a diocesan bishop, ''e.g.'', the bishops of Durham, Guildford and St Albans, and will have a cathedral. There may be one or more [[suffragan bishop]]s within the diocese who assist the diocesan bishop in his ministry, ''e.g.'', in Guildford diocese, the Bishop of Dorking. In some very large dioceses a legal measure has been enacted to create "episcopal areas", where the diocesan bishop runs one such area himself and appoints "area bishops" to run the other areas as mini-dioceses, legally delegating many of his powers to the area bishops. Dioceses with episcopal areas include [[Diocese of London|London]], [[Diocese of Chelmsford|Chelmsford]], [[Diocese of Oxford|Oxford]], [[Diocese of Chichester|Chichester]], [[Anglican Diocese of Southwark|Southwark]], and [[Diocese of Lichfield|Lichfield]]. The bishops work with an elected body of [[Laity|lay]] and [[ordained]] representatives, known as the [[Diocesan Synod]], to run the diocese. A diocese is subdivided into a number of archdeaconries.
* [[Ecclesiastical province|Province]], ''i.e.'', Canterbury or York. This is the area under the jurisdiction of an [[archbishop]], ''i.e.'' the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. Decision-making within the province is the responsibility of the General Synod (see also above). A province is subdivided into dioceses.
* [[Primacy of Canterbury|Primacy]], ''i.e.'', Church of England. The [[Archbishop of York]]'s title of "Primate of England" is essentially honorific and carries with it no powers beyond those inherent in being [[Archbishop]] and [[Metropolitan bishop|Metropolitan]] of the [[Province of York]].<ref name="EGM">{{cite book
 |last=Moore
 |first=E. Garth
 |author-link=
 |date=1967
 |title=An Introduction to English Canon Law
 |location=Oxford
 |publisher=Clarendon Press
 |page=29
}}
</ref> The [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], on the other hand, the "Primate of All England", has powers that extend over the whole of England, and also [[Wales]]—for example, through his [[Court of Faculties|Faculty Office]] he may grant a "special marriage licence" permitting the parties to marry otherwise than in a church: for example, in a school, college or university chapel;<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.facultyoffice.org.uk/special-marriage-licences/couples/general-information-about-marriage-in-the-church-of-england/| title= Faculty Office : Special Marriage Licence – Marriage Law Information – School, College and University Chapels | access-date=20 June 2021}}</ref> or anywhere, if one of the parties to the intended marriage is in danger of imminent death.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.facultyoffice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emergency-marriage-in-hospital-for-issue-April-2020.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614235930/http://www.facultyoffice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emergency-marriage-in-hospital-for-issue-April-2020.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2020 |url-status=live| title= Faculty Office : Emergency Marriages in Hospital, Hospice or At Home (England and Wales) | access-date=20 June 2021}}</ref>{{efn|The powers to grant special marriage licences, to appoint [[notary public|notaries public]], and to grant [[Lambeth degree]]s, are derived from the so called "legatine powers" which were held by the Pope's Legate to England prior to the Reformation, and were transferred to the Archbishop of Canterbury by the Ecclesiastical Licences Act 1533. Thus they are not, strictly speaking, derived from the status of the Archbishop of Canterbury as "Primate of All England". For this reason, they extend also to Wales.<ref name=EGM/>
}}
* [[Royal Peculiar]], a small number of churches which are more closely associated with [[the Crown]], for example [[Westminster Abbey]], and a very few more closely associated with the law which although conforming to the rites of the Church, are outside episcopal jurisdiction.

All rectors and vicars are [[advowson|appointed by patrons]], who may be private individuals, corporate bodies such as cathedrals, colleges or trusts, or by the bishop or directly by the Crown. No clergy can be instituted and inducted into a parish without swearing the Oath of Allegiance to His Majesty, and taking the Oath of Canonical Obedience "in all things lawful and honest" to the bishop. Usually they are instituted to the benefice by the bishop and then inducted by the archdeacon into the possession of the benefice property—church and parsonage. [[Curate]]s (assistant clergy) are appointed by rectors and vicars, or if priests-in-charge by the bishop after consultation with the patron. Cathedral clergy (normally a [[List of deans in the Church of England|dean]] and a varying number of residentiary canons who constitute the cathedral chapter) are appointed either by the Crown, the bishop, or by the dean and chapter themselves. Clergy officiate in a diocese either because they hold office as beneficed clergy or are licensed by the bishop when appointed, or simply with permission.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

===Primates===
[[File:Official_portrait_of_The_Lord_Archbishop_of_Canterbury_crop_2.jpg|thumb|233x233px|[[Justin Welby]], [[Archbishop of Canterbury]]]]
The most senior bishop of the Church of England is the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], who is the [[Metropolitan bishop|metropolitan]] of the southern province of England, the Province of Canterbury. He has the status of Primate of All England. He is the focus of unity for the worldwide Anglican Communion of independent national or regional churches. [[Justin Welby]] has been Archbishop of Canterbury since the confirmation of his election on 4 February 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21315054|title=Justin Welby becomes Archbishop of Canterbury|work=BBC News|date=4 February 2013}}</ref>

The second most senior bishop is the [[Archbishop of York]], who is the metropolitan of the northern province of England, the Province of York. For historical reasons (relating to the time of York's control by the [[Danelaw|Danes]])<ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Ancient See of York}}</ref> he is referred to as the Primate of England. [[Stephen Cottrell]] became Archbishop of York in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stephen Cottrell's biography |url=https://www.archbishopofyork.org/archbishop-york/stephen-cottrells-biography |website=The Archbishop of York |access-date=19 March 2021}}</ref> The [[Bishop of London]], the [[Bishop of Durham]] and the [[Bishop of Winchester]] are ranked in the next three positions, insofar as the holders of those sees automatically become members of the [[House of Lords]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/41-42/68/section/5/enacted
|title=Bishoprics Act 1878, s. 5|publisher=Legislation.gov.uk |access-date=21 June 2021}}</ref>{{efn|The bishops are named in this order in the section.}}

===Diocesan bishops===
The process of appointing diocesan bishops is complex, due to historical reasons balancing hierarchy against democracy, and is handled by the [[Appointment of Church of England bishops|Crown Nominations Committee]] which submits names to the Prime Minister (acting on behalf of the Crown) for consideration.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/427853236 |title=Church and state in 21st century Britain : the future of church establishment |date=2009 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-0-230-23437-6 |editor-last=Morris |editor-first=R. M. |location=Basingstoke [England] |pages=54 |oclc=427853236}}</ref>

===Representative bodies===
{{Main|General Synod of the Church of England}}
The Church of England has a legislative body, General Synod. This can create two types of legislation, [[List of Church of England Measures|measures]] and [[canon law|canons]]. Measures have to be approved but cannot be amended by the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|British Parliament]] before receiving the [[Royal Assent]] and becoming part of the law of England.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/churchlawlegis/measures/|title=Summary of Church Assembly and General Synod Measures|date=November 2007|work=Church of England website|publisher=Archbishops' council of the Church of England|access-date=22 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213113814/http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/churchlawlegis/measures/|archive-date=13 February 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Although it is the [[state religion|established]] church in England only, its measures must be approved by both Houses of Parliament including the non-English members. Canons require Royal Licence and Royal Assent, but form the law of the church, rather than the law of the land.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/|title=General Synod|work=Church of England website|publisher=Archbishops' council of the Church of England|access-date=5 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041112052103/http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/|archive-date=12 November 2004|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Another assembly is the [[Convocations of Canterbury and York|Convocation of the English Clergy]], which is older than the General Synod and its predecessor the Church Assembly. By the 1969 Synodical Government Measure almost all of the Convocations' functions were transferred to the General Synod. Additionally, there are [[Diocesan Synod]]s and [[Deanery#Anglican usage|deanery synods]], which are the governing bodies of the divisions of the Church.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

===House of Lords===
{{Main|Lords Spiritual}}
Of the 42 diocesan [[archbishop]]s and bishops in the Church of England, 26 are permitted to sit in the [[House of Lords]]. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York automatically have seats, as do the bishops of [[Bishop of London|London]], [[Bishop of Durham|Durham]] and [[Bishop of Winchester|Winchester]]. The remaining 21 seats are filled in order of seniority by date of [[consecration]]. It may take a diocesan bishop a number of years to reach the House of Lords, at which point he or she becomes a [[Lords Spiritual|Lord Spiritual]]. The [[Bishop of Sodor and Man]] and the [[Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe]] are not eligible to sit in the House of Lords as their dioceses lie outside the United Kingdom.<ref>[http://www.parliament.uk/directories/house_of_lords_information_office/alphabetical_list_of_members.cfm House of Lords: alphabetical list of Members] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080702053341/http://www.parliament.uk/directories/house_of_lords_information_office/alphabetical_list_of_members.cfm |date=2 July 2008}}. Retrieved 12 December 2008.</ref>

===Crown Dependencies===
Although they are not part of England or the United Kingdom, the Church of England is also the established church in the [[Crown Dependencies]] of the [[Isle of Man]], the [[Jersey|Bailiwick of Jersey]] and the [[Bailiwick of Guernsey]]. The Isle of Man has its own diocese of [[Sodor and Man]], and the [[Bishop of Sodor and Man]] is an ex officio member of the [[Legislative Council of the Isle of Man|legislative council]] of the [[Tynwald]] on the island.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gell|first1=Sir James|title=Gell on Manx Church|url=http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/manxsoc/msvol31/gell.htm|website=Isle of Man Online|publisher=IOM Online|access-date=7 February 2017}}</ref> Historically the [[Channel Islands]] have been under the authority of the [[Bishop of Winchester]], but this authority has temporarily been delegated to the [[Bishop of Dover]] since 2015. In [[Jersey]] the [[Dean of Jersey]] is a non-voting member of the [[States of Jersey]]. In [[Guernsey]] the Church of England is the [[State religion|established church]], although the [[Dean of Guernsey]] is not a member of the [[States of Guernsey]].<ref>{{cite web|title=About|url=http://www.churchofengland.org.gg/about|website=Guernsey Deanery|publisher=Church of England}}</ref>