anglican church: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Historical, Religious, Academic
Quick answer
What does “anglican church” mean?
The official Christian church of England, established by law, with the British monarch as its Supreme Governor.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The official Christian church of England, established by law, with the British monarch as its Supreme Governor; a worldwide communion of churches in historical and theological continuity with it.
Refers to the entire global communion of churches (the Anglican Communion) that derive from the Church of England, sharing traditions of worship, theology, and governance (e.g., via bishops), while being autonomous in each country (e.g., the Episcopal Church in the USA).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'Anglican Church' often specifically means the Church of England. In the US, it more commonly refers to the broader global communion or its US member, The Episcopal Church.
Connotations
In the UK, it carries strong historical and national identity connotations. In the US, it may connote a more liberal, high-church Protestant denomination compared to evangelicals.
Frequency
More frequent in UK discourse due to its established status. In the US, 'Episcopal Church' is often used more specifically for the local branch.
Grammar
How to Use “anglican church” in a Sentence
the Anglican Church + [of/in + COUNTRY/REGION]be/become a member of the Anglican Churchthe Anglican Church + VERB (e.g., teaches, ordains, celebrates)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anglican church” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The monarch is required to **uphold** the Anglican Church.
- He decided to **join** the Anglican Church.
American English
- Some parishes voted to **leave** the Anglican Church over doctrinal issues.
- The diocese will **affiliate** with the Anglican Church in North America.
adjective
British English
- **Anglican Church** authorities released a statement.
- It's a typical **Anglican Church** wedding.
American English
- She follows **Anglican Church** traditions.
- The **Anglican Church** network is extensive.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts like heritage tourism or property related to church buildings.
Academic
Common in history, theology, religious studies, and sociology texts discussing Christianity, the Reformation, or British history.
Everyday
Used in discussions of religion, weddings, christenings, or news about church decisions on social issues.
Technical
Used in ecclesiology to describe its polity, liturgy (Book of Common Prayer), and theological distinctives.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anglican church”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “anglican church”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anglican church”
- Using lowercase ('anglican church') when referring to the specific institution. Confusing it with 'Church of England', which is specifically the branch in England. Using 'Anglican' as a noun for a person without 'Church' (e.g., 'She is an Anglican' is correct, but 'She attends the Anglican' is incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is considered a Protestant church stemming from the English Reformation, though it retains many Catholic liturgical and structural traditions.
Key differences include the rejection of the Pope's authority by Anglicans, the allowance of married clergy in Anglicanism, and some differing views on sacraments and doctrine.
The British monarch is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. The spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion is the Archbishop of Canterbury.
No. The Church of England is only in England. The Anglican Communion is a global family of churches in over 165 countries, including The Episcopal Church (USA), the Anglican Church of Canada, etc.
The official Christian church of England, established by law, with the British monarch as its Supreme Governor.
Anglican church is usually formal, historical, religious, academic in register.
Anglican church: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæŋɡlɪkən tʃɜːtʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæŋɡlɪkən tʃɜrtʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the via media of the Anglican Church”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ANGLICAN = ANGLO (England) + CAN (as in 'community'). The Church that started in England and spread across the globe.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IS A BRIDGE (between Protestantism and Catholicism).
Practice
Quiz
What is a key difference between the Anglican Church in the UK and the US?