It is the mother church of the Anglican tradition , with foundational doctrines being contained in the Thirty-nine Articles and The Books of Homilies. Its members are called Anglicans. The guiding theologian that shaped Anglican doctrine was the Reformer Thomas Cranmer , who developed the Church of England's liturgical text, the Book of Common Prayer. The Elizabethan Settlement implemented β concluded the English Reformation, charting a course for the English church to describe itself as a via media between two branches of Protestantismβ Lutheranism and Calvinism βand later, a denomination that is both Reformed and Catholic.
In the earlier phase of the English Reformation there were both Catholic and Protestant martyrs. This continued into the later phases, which saw the Penal Laws punish Catholics and nonconforming Protestants. Various factions continued to challenge the leadership and doctrine of the church into the 17th century, which under Charles I veered towards a more Catholic interpretation of the Elizabethan Settlement, especially under Archbishop Laud.
Following the victory of the Roundheads in the English Civil War , the Puritan faction dominated and the Book of Common Prayer and episcopacy were abolished.
These would be restored under the Stuart Restoration in As a broad church , the Church of England contains several doctrinal strands: the main traditions are known as Anglo-Catholic , high church , central church , and low church , the latter producing a growing evangelical wing that includes Reformed Anglicanism , with a smaller number of Arminian Anglicans. The British monarch currently Charles III is the supreme governor and the archbishop of Canterbury vacant since 12 November , after the resignation of Justin Welby is the most senior cleric.
The governing structure of the Church is based on dioceses , each presided over by a bishop. Within each diocese are local parishes. The General Synod of the Church of England is the legislative body for the church and comprises bishops, other clergy and laity.
