Close
Stained glass depiction in Canterbury Cathedral
The sovereign has a rather different relationship with the Church of Scotland where the Reformation occurred later in the sixteenth century and in a way which led to the mutual recognition of state and church but without the closer ties of English establishment.
English establishment has evolved to the point where, although formally the sovereign still appoints all the senior clergy on the Prime Minister’s advice and is committed by a coronation oath to support the Church, the Church is practically autonomous.
The Unit has extended this research in the accession and coronation project which examined the religious roles of the sovereign.
Outputs
In 2005 the Unit commenced a study of church establishment which led to three publications:
- Church and State – A mapping exercise (2006, Constitution Unit), Cranmer, Lucas and Morris
- Church and State Some Reflections on Church Establishment in England, R.M. Morris ed.(2008)
Church and State in 21st century Britain: The Future of Church Establishment, R.M. Morris (March 2009
