Fuente: Elaboración propia.
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Religion has historically played a significant role in shaping national identities, social institutions, and cultural traditions. In the case of England, Anglicanism represents a particularly important example of how religion, politics and society can become deeply interconnected over time.
For many years, Anglicanism has been practiced by millions of believers around the world, becoming one of the most significant traditions within Christianity. The term Anglicanism began to be used in 1838 in order to distinguish this religious tradition from other branches of Protestantism. According to Mark Chapman (2006), the concept was closely associated with the idea that the Church of England represented a continuation of the ancient Christian Church, the same tradition to which early figures such as Athanasius and Augustine belonged. In this sense, Anglicanism was also related to what was sometimes called Anglo-Catholicism or English Catholicism. However, currently, it is generally used to describe the branch of Christianity that originated in the Church of England and later expanded through other institutions such as the American Episcopal Church.
Over time, Anglicanism has developed into a global religious tradition with millions of followers across different countries. According to Sandeman (2025), the Anglican community continues to grow by approximately one million believers each year, reaching nearly 100 million adherents worldwide. Although Anglican churches now exist in many regions of the world, the United Kingdom remains one of the most important historical and institutional centers of this tradition. For this reason, understanding Anglicanism within the British context allows us to better explore how religion has influenced cultural identity, social institutions, and historical developments.
Therefore, the main objective of this blog is to examine the relevance of Anglicanism in the British tradition within contemporary society. In order to achieve this, we need to: explain the historical foundations of Anglicanism within the British tradition in the contemporary British society, identify the liturgical practices of Anglicanism in the British tradition within contemporary British society, and evaluate the institutional role of Anglicanism in the British tradition within contemporary British society.
Throughout this blog, readers will encounter discussions about the historical Anglicanism, its religious practices, and the ways in which this tradition has evolved over time. For example, Anglicanism worship is characterized by shared belief and liturgical practices that include the authority of the Holy Scriptures, the recognition of the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, and the celebration of sacraments such as Baptism and Holy Communion (Somavilla, 2018). These elements help maintain continuity between historical tradition and contemporary religious life.
As Danielle Hervieu-Léger (2000) explains, "religious traditions endure through collective memory, as communities understand themselves as part of a lineage of belief that connects present believers with their historical past".
Through this blog, we invite readers to explore the historical roots, religious practices, and contemporary significance of Anglicanism in order to better understand how this tradition continues to shape identity, culture, and society within the British context.
References:
Arija Alonso, L. (2022). The history of Anglicanism: Origin, changes and consequences [Universidad de Valladolid]. https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/58452
Chapman, M. (2006). Anglicanism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford Academic. http://dickyricky.com/books/A%20Very%20Short%20Introduction/Anglicanism%20-%20A%20Very%20Short%20Introduction%20-%20Mark%20Chapman.pdf
Leith, J. (2024). Anglicanism and the reproduction of peoplehood. International Journal for the Study of the Christian Church, 24(2), 217–232. https://doi.org/10.1080/1474225X.2024.2328943
Sandeman, J. (2025, 27 de julio). Anglicans grow by a million people each year. Anglican Ink. https://anglican.ink/2025/07/27/anglicans-grow-by-a-million-people-each-year/
Somavilla, E. (2018). Protocolo, historia y desarrollo de las Iglesias Protestantes. REVISTA ESTUDIOS INSTITUCIONALES, 5(8), 95–149. https://doi.org/10.5944/eeii.vol.5.n.8.2018.21876
The Church of England. (n.d.). History of the Church of England. Churchofengland.org. https://www.churchofengland.org/about/history-church-england
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