How do Anglicans and Episcopalians view Henry VIII and Elizabeth I?

Question

Do Anglican and Episcopalians venerate or at least have great respect for King Henry VIII and his daughter Queen Elizabeth I? Had Henry VIII remained faithful to the Pope, the Church of England would not have even existed and had Elizabeth I followed her half-sister Mary I ‘s step, Church of England would not have survived and Britain might have been ruled by Roman Catholic monarchs to this day.

If Anglicans and Episcopalians do not have at least great respect for Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, IMHO, then it is same like saying that Church of England is a mistake and should seek reunion with the Roman Church.

Answer 1

No Idea.

Answer 2

We are aware of the history but I doubt many really think about it one way or the other.

Answer 3

I am Episcopalian and I must say that I hardly think about them at all.  Our church is founded on worship for Jesus and not respecting two long dead monarchs.  If anyone says that lack of veneration for humans makes a Christian denomination a mistake, then that raises the possibility that all Christian denominations could be a theoretically be a mistake.  As for reuniting with the Roman Catholic church, those types of talks have been going on for decades.  If I wanted to be Catholic then I would go join that church but I don't agree with several of its basic tenets.  I am not particularly worried about a reunification at least not in my lifetime.

Answer 4

We don't think about them, other than the fact that they are important to the history.

To venerate them would be highly improper.

Answer 5

Henry VIII argued with the Pope, and eventually took things into his owns hands to allow serial divorces  so that he could have a legitimate heir.  Actually he divorced only twice, and had two of his wives executed.  One wife had the  original approach of dying before anything worse happened to her.

Your view is one you are entitled to hold.  However it ignores the  other significant factor: the Protestant revolution, very much in vogue at the time.  By embracing Lutheran ideas a very significant change took place in the nation's thinking, a change which (many would argue) paved the way to England becoming the leading scientific and intellectual country of the 17th century.  By being free from Papal 'though control' (of the kind which silenced Galileo) English thinkers were able to make enormous leaps of imagination which were effectively denied to Catholic countries.

Diversity of religion can be an enormous force for progress - after all without the Protestant reformation, all Catholic services throughout the world would still be conducted in Latin.  We used our native language for worship centuries before you did!

It is all part of our rich historical and Christain heritage.  Henry and Elizabeth were important Monarchs, as were many others.

Peace and blessing to you all.

Answer 6

Never gave it much thought.  I am glad for the reformation and not being tied to the catholic church under the pope.

Answer 7

Those that know their history view Henry VIII and Elizabeth I as wise people.  However a vast majority of people do not study history at all.

Answer 8

If you're interested, this is a popular forum for Anglican and Episcopalian Christians, you may find more answers here...

http://christianforums.com/f368-scriptur...

Answer 9

Not sure which history books you have been reading. Henry VIII was Catholic born and bred. Although Henry broke with Rome, The Church in England remained in the Catholic tradition until Henry VIII died. The Mass was still celebrated in Latin and Henry bequeathed large sums of money so that Masses for the dead could be said for the repose of his soul. Hardly the action of a protestant!!

After Henry's death the Church in England went through the most turbulent times: swinging violently in the direction of strict reformed protestantism under Henry's son Edward VI, then straight back to full unity with Rome and finally caught half way between the two in an uneasy mish-mash which we call Anglicanism.  Since Victorian times and the Oxford Movement, the Church of England (can't speak for the american church) has been slowly but surely climbing on board the Roman Boat.  The Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Church are close these days and enjoy a relatively warm and friendly relationship.