Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • The national church of England: The Church of England is the established Christian church in England, with the British monarch as its Supreme Governor. It is the mother church of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Usage

• The term "Church of England" is used as a proper noun to refer specifically to this institution. It is often preceded by the definite article "the".
• It functions as a singular noun, though it refers to a collective body.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The King is the temporal head of the Church of England.
  • She was married in a beautiful Church of England parish church.
  • The history of the Church of England dates back to the 6th century.

Advanced Usage

• "Established Church": A common synonym highlighting its status as the official state church.
  • The Church of England is the established church in England.
• "Anglican Church": A term often used interchangeably, especially in a global context, though "Church of England" is more specific to England itself.
  • The Anglican Church, of which the Church of England is the founding member, has a presence worldwide.

Variants and Related Words

• Anglican (adj): Relating to the Church of England or any church in the Anglican Communion.
  • He follows the Anglican tradition.
• Anglicanism (n): The faith and practices of the Anglican Church.
  • She studied the history of Anglicanism.
• C of E (n): A common abbreviation for the Church of England.
  • He's a C of E vicar.

Synonyms

• The Anglican Communion (in a broader, global sense).
• The Established Church (in the context of England).

Related Phrases

• High Church/Low Church: Terms describing different theological and ceremonial traditions within the Church of England.
  • That parish is known for its High Church services.
• Broad Church: Refers to the inclusive, comprehensive nature of the Church of England, accommodating a wide range of beliefs.
  • Anglicanism is often described as a broad church.

Noun

1. the national church of England (and all other churches in other countries that share its beliefs); has its see in Canterbury and the sovereign as its temporal head