Ask the English

[Sandra Craft]

I have another one from the same book:  Anglo-Catholic.  When I read this I assumed it referred to someone from Britian who was Catholic (i.e., Roman Catholic, which is the same thing on this side of the pond).  Then later in the book the narrator was asked about a Catholic church and she described her own church, which I thought was C of E, what with the vicar being engaged to be married and all.  The people she was talking to were confused as well until it was sorted out that she was talking about Anglo-Catholic, and they meant Roman Catholic.  So just to confirm, Anglo-Catholic is the same as C of E?  Or is this another religious group entirely?

It's a movement within the Anglican Church  which more or less embraces the Catholic model of doctrine and worship but still wants to retain the separate identity of the former. They like to dress up more ornately and put on a bit of a show unlike their dourer colleagues.

So high church vs. low church?  I'm familiar with those terms but never heard high church called Catholic of any kind.

[The Magic Pudding]

So high church vs. low church?  I'm familiar with those terms but never heard high church called Catholic of any kind.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_church

In the 17th century, the term "High Church" was used to describe those divines and laity who placed a "high" emphasis on complete adherence to the Established Church position, including some emphasis on ritual or liturgical practices inherited from the Early Church or the Undivided Church.

These guys calling themselves high and thereby inferring others are low is annoying.  High does have the modern drug addled connotation so I suppose it is appropriate.

[TheWalkingContradiction]

So high church vs. low church?  

O ye'll tak' the high church,
and Ah'll tak' the low church,
And Ah'll be in Heaven afore ye

(But isn't a "church" called a "kirk" in Scots?  You know, like Captain Church on Star Trek...    )

('Course I'm just a dumb Yank, but I think 'Heaven" would be spelled something like Heiven...)

O ye'll tak' the high kirk,
and Ah'll tak' the low kirk,
And Ah'll be in Heiven afore ye

[Sandra Craft]

So high church vs. low church?  I'm familiar with those terms but never heard high church called Catholic of any kind.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_church

In the 17th century, the term "High Church" was used to describe those divines and laity who placed a "high" emphasis on complete adherence to the Established Church position, including some emphasis on ritual or liturgical practices inherited from the Early Church or the Undivided Church.

Very informative, thanks.  I was taking the high church/low church distinction as having to do with the trappings (incense, robes, etc) so "high church" would be catholic-lite while "low church" was more Puritan in appearance. 

[OldGit]

I was taking the high church/low church distinction as having to do with the trappings (incense, robes, etc) so "high church" would be catholic-lite while "low church" was more Puritan in appearance.

That too.  It's the High mob that do the trappings - "Bells and Smells" - it seems to go along with the catholic side.  The Low gang generally have pretty plain churches and services.

[Hector Valdez]

Good quote: "Did you really think you could outsmart me, boy? I'm. Sherlock Bleeding Holmes!"