Last updated on September 25th, 2022 at 03:38 pm
If you belong to the Church of England, then you should be able to get a divorce without worrying about anything. This is as divorce has been allowed in the Church of England since the time of Henry VIII.
Since 2002, at the discretion of the priest, the Church has allowed divorced people to remarry at Church as well.
Church of England Founded On Divorce
Henry VIII is famous for having six wives. There is a point in history when he actively chose to break with the Pope. In 1533 he declared that he was the head of the new Church.
This was as he wanted to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragorn. His reason? She had failed to provide him with a male heir.
However, just because Henry VIII could get a divorce, this doesn’t mean that so could other people. Between the medieval age all the way to the 19th century, the Church of England was not very supportive of divorce.
If couples wanted to get a divorce, then they would need to get an Act of Parliament. This meant that for poorer sections of the society, divorce was much too expensive.
It wasn’t until 1857 that laws were passed that made divorce more accessible. In 1936, Edward VIII, a man known for being a playboy, decided to abdicate the throne.
This is because he wanted to be married to an American woman who had had two divorces. This could not be reconciled with his role as the head of the Church.
Edward VIII was succeeded by his brother George VI. The views of the Church of England have progressed in modern times.
People can now not only get divorced, but they can get remarried under the Church of England as well.
What Religion Was Henry VIII?
When he was young, Henry the VIII was brought up as a devout Catholic. However, there came a time when he wanted to annul his marriage.
He had married Catherine of Aragorn, who had been unable to provide him with a male heir. She did however, provide him with a female heir, Mary I.
Henry VIII was not only becoming impatient for a male heir, but he had also fallen in love with one of the ladies at Court, Anne Boleyn. He believed that if he could divorce Catherine of Aragorn and marry Anne Boleyn, then she would be able to provide him with a male heir.
But the Roman Catholic Church denied him his annulment. That is why he chose to separate from the Roman Catholic Church, and named himself the head of the Church of England.
He would then go on to have four more wives.
Church of England Views On Remarriage
The Church of England does allow divorced people to get married at Church. This provision has been available since 2002.
However, you would need the permission of the priest at your Church to get remarried there.
Church of England Views On Divorce
Are you wondering what are the Church of England on divorce? The Church of England only started recognizing the marriage of a divorced person, that is, remarriage, from 2002.
It wasn’t until 1857 that civil divorce was allowed in Britain. However, this didn’t mean that royals could easily get a divorce.
The doctrine of the Church of England had not changed as well. It was much later, in 2002, that the Church of England became more accepting of divorce.
However, just because the Church of England accepts divorce, that doesn’t mean that they support or advocate it. Divorce should only be seen as a possibility if it’s found that the marriage can truly no longer be salvaged in any way.
Does The Church Of England Support Divorce?
The Church of England allows for divorce in situations where the marriage can no longer continue. The views of the Church of England on divorce have shifted over the ages.
Nowadays, divorce has become more common. The rate of divorce in the UK is similar to the rate in the USA.
With time, the Church of England has become more accepting of divorces. Divorced people can also get remarried at the Church, at the discretion of the priest.
Who Was The First Royal To Marry A Divorcee?
The first royal to marry a divorcee was Edward VIII. He had to abdicate his role as the head of the Church of England, because he chose to get married to an American woman who was twice divorced.
He could not reconcile his role as the head of the Church of England with his marriage, and ended up abdicating.
Can A Divorced Anglican Marry A Catholic?
The Catholic Church doesn’t look very favorably upon divorce, even if the Anglican Church is more accepting of it. Getting a divorce, when you belong to the Catholic Church, can be much more difficult.
However, let’s say that the Catholic person you want want to marry isn’t divorced. Instead, you’re the one who is divorced.
If you choose to get married in an Anglican Church, then at the discretion of the priest, you can get married. It might be more difficult for you to find a Catholic priest who is willing to marry you.
So yes, an Anglican who is divorced can get married to a Catholic, but you might need to get married at an Anglican Church.
FAQ Related To Why Does The Church Of England Allow Divorce
The Church of England has had shifting views on divorce over the years. Nowadays, they are more accepting of divorce and remarriage as well.
People often have various questions when it comes to the Church of England and divorce. Here are the most common questions that they ask.
When Did The Church Of England Allow Divorce?
In 1533, Henry VII declared that he was the head of the new Church of England. This was so he could annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragorn.
However, this didn’t mean that people could easily get a divorce. The Church of England was very much opposed to divorce until much later.
It was as late as 2002 when the Church of England finally allowed divorced people to get remarried at Church as well. Even today, if you want to get a divorce and you belong to the Anglican Church, then you would first be asked to try to resolve your problem.
Even by the Anglican Church, divorce is seen as the last option. However, at the discretion of the priest, divorced people can now get remarried at Anglical churches. There has developed a tolerant view of divorce in recent times.
Is Divorce A Sin In The Church Of England?
Divorce is considered a sin in the Bible, unless certain conditions are met. Since the Church of England follows the Bible, their views reflect the views in the Bible.
The Bible does allow people to get divorced under certain circumstances. These include:
- Where adultery is involved
- If one partner has abandoned the other
With time however, getting a divorce has become more common. And people have many reasons outside of these, for why they get a divorce.
The Church of England was also founded on a divorce. Divorced people, in the modern day, can get remarried at an Anglican Church as well. The view of divorce in the 20th century is different as well.
Can You Marry A Divorced Person In The Church Of England?
The relationship between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn was what laid the foundations of the Church of England. When the Roman Catholic Church did not allow him to divorce Catherine of Aragorn, he declared himself as the head of the new Church of England.
However, just because he had had his marriage annulled, this didn’t mean that others could follow suit. The Church of England heavily dissuaded people, including royals, from getting married, for several years.
The views on divorce have shifted over the years. There was a time when Edward VIII had to abdicate from the throne.
This was as he wanted to get married to an American woman who had two previous divorces. Edward VIII was told that he could not both marry her and be the head of the Church of England.
When faced with this decision, he chose to give up his position to his brother. He would then go on to get married to the American woman.
Nowadays, the Church of England is more accepting of divorce. This means that its possible for you to get a divorce, if you belong to the Church of England.
You can also get remarried, if you belong to the Church of England. However, you will need to find a priest who is willing to marry you.
This is less difficult today as more people are accepting of divorce. With the rate of divorce across the country skyrocketing, it’s now possible for people to get divorced without worrying about it.
You can both get remarried yourself, and you can also marry a divorced person who belongs to the Church of England. Use this guide to learn more about marrying a divorced person in the Church.
