Christianity is one of the world’s major religions, and hardly anyone would haven’t heard of it. But most people do not know about Anglicanism and Catholicism as Christianity’s two forms.
The terms Anglican and Catholic sound like synonyms and are used interchangeably on many occasions, but both have different meanings and varied differences. So let’s dig deeper between these forms of Christianity and understand the differences.
Catholic vs Anglican – Comparison
| Parameter | Anglican | Catholic |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Anglican refers to the Anglican Church situated in England, United Kingdom. It refers to the Anglicanism religion, which is a form of Christianity. People who follow Anglicanism are also known as Anglicans. | Catholic refers to the Catholic Church situated in the Vatican. It refers to the Catholicism religion, which is the first and oldest form of Christianity. People who follow Catholicism are also known as Catholics. |
| Formation | King Henry VII gave rise to Anglican Church or Anglicanism in 1534. | The first and oldest form of Christianity was formed immediately after the death of Jesus Christ. |
| Age | Anglicanism, or Anglican Church, is around five hundred years old. | Catholicism, or Catholic Church, is more than two thousand years old. |
| Members | It has approximately eighty million members globally. | It has approximately one billion members globally. |
| Holy Trinity | Anglicans have their faith in the Holy Trinity. | Catholics do not believe in the concept of the Holy Trinity. |
| Transubstantiation | Anglicans or Anglicanism do not believe that bread and wine convert into Jesus’s body and blood. | Catholics or Catholicism do believe that bread and wine convert into Jesus’s body or blood. |
| Priest | In Anglicanism, both women and men can become Priests. | In Catholicism, only men can become Priests. |
| Marriage | The Anglican Priests can get married. | The Catholic Priests have to make a Celibacy Vow |
| Hierarchy | The concept of Central Hierarchy is not present in Anglican Churches. | The concept of Central Hierarchy is present in the Catholic Churches. |
| Sacraments | Anglicanism or Anglicans believe in only two sacraments: Baptism and Eucharist. | Catholicism or Catholics believe in all seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Holy Orders, Matrimony, Penance, and Anointing of the Sick. |
| Head of Church | In Anglican Churches, a Monarch is the head of a Church. | In Catholic Churches, a Pope is the head of a Church. |
Major Differences Between Anglican And Catholic
What exactly is Anglican⛪️?
Anglican Church is situated in England, United Kingdom. It was formed in 1543 after King Henry VII wanted to divorce his wife Catherine and formed a new religion, Anglicanism.
The idea behind the formation of the Anglican Religion was to make a new form of Christianity that did not believe in some of the practices of Catholicism. Therefore, people who follow Anglicanism are also known as Anglicans.
Features of Anglicanism/ Anglican
- Anglicanism was formed in the year 1543 by King Henry VII.
- The third largest Christian church in the world is the Anglican Church, situated in England, United Kingdom.
- Anglicans believe in the Holy Trinity, i.e., Three Christian Godheads (Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit).
- The Anglican Communion is home to almost 80 million people worldwide.
- Anglicanism does not believe in the thought of only letting men become priests. Anglican Women can also choose to become priests.
- In Anglicanism, Priests marry instead of taking a Celibacy vow.
- Anglicans do not believe that there is any church or priest above anyone.
- Baptism and Eucharist are the only two sacraments that Anglicans believe in.
- The monarch is the head of the church in Anglicanism.
- Anglicans do not believe that good sins save them. They believe only God can save them.
What exactly is Catholic✝️?
Catholicism is the first form of Christianity formed after the death of Jesus Christ. The Catholic church, or the St. Peter Basilica, is the world’s first and oldest Christian church.
It is believed to have existed for more than two thousand years. People who follow Catholicism are also known as Catholics.
Features of Catholic/ Catholicism
- Catholicism is the first form of Christianity formed immediately after Jesus Christ’s death.
- St. Peter Basilica is the largest Catholic church in the world.
- Catholics do not believe in the concept of the Holy Trinity.
- Catholics believe in Transubstantiation, which means that Bread and Wine take the place of Jesus’s body and blood.
- Catholics are estimated to be at least 1 billion in the whole world.
- Catholicism only gives men the right to become priests.
- Unlike Anglicans, Catholics believe in Central Hierarchy.
- Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, Penance, and Anointing of the Sick are the seven sacraments that Catholics believe in.
- Instead of marrying, Catholics Priests have to take a celibacy vow.
- A pope is the head of a church.
- Catholics believe in God, and the good deeds save them.
How Is Anglican Different from Catholic?
Anglicanism and Catholicism are both Christian denominations with shared historical roots, yet they differ in several significant ways. While Anglicans recognize the authority of the British monarch as the head of their church, Catholics view the Pope as the ultimate authority.
Origin Of The Word
- Anglican – The word Anglican originated from the Medieval Latin word “Anglicans,” meaning “High – Church, of the Church of England,” which originated from the word “Anglicus,” meaning “Of the English people, of England,” which originated from the word “Angli” meaning “the Angles.”
- Catholic – The word Catholic originated from the Greek word “Katholou,” meaning “on the whole, according to the whole, in general.”
Meaning
- Anglican – Anglican refers to the Anglican Church in England, United Kingdom. People who follow Anglicanism are also known as Anglicans.
- Catholic – Catholic refers to the Catholic Church situated in the Vatican. It is also known as Roman Catholic Church and St. Peter Basilica. People who follow Catholicism are also known as Catholics.
Formation
- Anglican – The Anglican Church, or Anglicanism, was formed in 1543 by King Henry VII when he wanted to give divorce to his wife. Anglicanism has been derived from Catholicism.
- Catholic – The Catholic Church was formed after Jesus Christ’s death. Catholicism is the first and the oldest form of Christianity to be in existence.
Age
- Anglican – The Anglican Church or Anglicanism is approximately 500 hundred years old.
- Catholic – The Catholic Church, or Catholicism, is approximately two thousand years old.
👥 Members
- Anglican – The Anglican Church, or Anglicanism, has about eighty million members worldwide.
- Catholic – The Catholic Church, or Catholicism, has about one billion members worldwide.
Holy Trinity
- Anglican – The Anglicans believe in the concept of the Holy Trinity.
- Catholic – The Catholics do not believe in the concept of the Holy Trinity.
Transubstantiation
- Anglican – Anglicans do not believe in Transubstantiation.
- Catholic – Catholics highly believe in Transubstantiation.
🙋♀️ Women Priests
- Anglican – There are no restrictions on women from becoming priests in Anglican.
- Catholic – In Catholicism, only men are priests.
💍 Marriage
- Anglican – In Anglican, there is no restriction on priests getting married.
- Catholic – In Catholicism, priests must take a celibacy vow instead of getting married.
Central Hierarchy
- Anglican – Central Hierarchy is absent in Anglicanism or Anglican Church.
- Catholic – Central Hierarchy prevails in Catholicism or Catholic Church. In Catholicism or Catholic Churches, a Pope is considered above all, followed by Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and The Laity.
Sacraments
- Anglican – There are only two sacraments in Anglicanism: Baptism and Eucharist.
- Catholic – Seven sacraments prevail in Catholicism: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, Penance, and Anointing of the Sick.
🏫 Head Of The Church
- Anglican – A monarch is the head of a church in the Anglican Church or Anglicanism.
- Catholic – A pope is the head of a church in the Catholic Church or Catholicism.
Beliefs
- Anglican – Anglicans believe that only God saves them from difficult times, and good deeds and sinful actions have no role in it.
- Catholics believe it’s also the good work and sinful actions that play a major role in their lives along with God.
Conclusion
Anglican and Catholic are two churches or religions that have originated from Christianity. Catholicism is the oldest and first form of Christianity after Jesus Christ’s death.
It’s been more than 2000 years since Catholicism was in existence. On the other hand, Anglicanism originated from Catholicism after King Henry VII decided to part away from his wife and formed another form of Christianity.
It’s been around 500 years since Anglicanism was in existence.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How many people follow Anglicanism and Catholicism?
It is believed that around eighty million people worldwide follow Anglicanism and around one billion people worldwide follow Catholicism.
Q2. What is meant by Baptism?
Baptism is a Christian ceremony conducted when a person wants to join Christianity.
As a grown-up, one must stay underwaters to join Christianity. In the case of babies, a priest drops a few drops of water on the baby’s head to welcome him to Christianity.
Q3. What are the major differences between Anglican and Catholicism?
The major differences between Anglican and Catholicism are as follows.
1. Anglicanism originated from Catholicism, whereas Catholicism is the first and oldest form of Christianity.
2. Anglicans believe in the concept of the Holy Trinity, whereas Catholics do not believe in Holy Trinity.
3. Anglicans do not believe in Transubstantiation, but Catholics do.
4. In Anglicanism, priests can marry, but priests have to take a celibacy vow in Catholicism.
5. In Anglicanism, both men and women can be priests, but in Catholicism, only men can be priests.
6. Anglicans believe in only two sacraments, namely Baptism and Eucharist, but Catholics believe in all seven sacraments, namely Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, Penance, Anointing of the sick.
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A major error !! Catholics believe in a triune God ie,
Father, Son, Holy Sprit.
In your conclusion there is a 200 typo should be 2000
Revised, Thanks you for your valuable Feedback
Catholics definitely believe in the Holy Trinity.
It was Henry VIII not VII.
In the last supper, Jesus didn’t just tell the apostles to do like him but actually told them that this is his body and blood. This wasn’t the only time that he referred to eating his body for salvation (John 6:53-57).