King Henry VIII and the History of Anglicanism
Anglicanism is the third most common branch of Christianity throughout the world. It was developed during the reign of King Henry VIII, who through the Act of Supremacy of 1534, made himself the “supreme head” of the Church of England, thereby separating himself and his country from Roman Catholicism and from the control of the papacy.
This separation was primarily motivated by King Henry’s quest for a male heir and the Pope’s refusal to grant the king a divorce. As this reformation was inspired by political reasoning as opposed to theological, the establishment of the Church of England remained almost fully Catholic with the exception of loyalty to Rome.
Though Anglicanism remains tied to the Church of England, there is currently no international voice (such as the Pope of Roman Catholicism) for this community. Instead, this branch of Christianity is characterized by autonomous parishes throughout the world and by significant freedom and diversity within the bounds of scripture, reason, and tradition.
History of St. George’s Church
St. George’s Episcopal / Anglican Church is the oldest church in Flushing, New York, and one of the oldest in New York State (over 300 years!). It was originally organized as a mission of the Church of England by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts with its first meeting held in 1702. Sixty years later, in 1761, King George III granted a charter to this church, officially recognizing St. George’s as a parish of the Church of England.
Timeline of St. George’s Episcopal Church