Antidisestablishmentarianism

Arms of the See of Canterbury, governing the Church of England

Antidisestablishmentarianism (/ˌæntidɪsɪˌstæblɪʃmənˈtɛəriənɪzəm/ , US also /ˌænt-/ ) is a position that advocates that a state church (the "established church") should continue to receive government patronage, rather than be disestablished (i.e., be separated from the state).[1][2]

In 19th century Britain, it developed as a political movement in opposition to disestablishmentarianism, the Liberal Party's efforts to disestablish or remove the Church of England as the official state church of England, Ireland, and Wales. The Church's status has been maintained in England, but in Ireland, the Anglican Church of Ireland was disestablished in 1871. In Wales, four Church of England dioceses were disestablished in 1920 and became the Church in Wales. In colonial America, the Church of England was disestablished in six colonies despite its mild popularity in the 1780s; many Anglicans in America began to refer to themselves as Episcopalians.[3]

Antidisestablishmentarianism is also frequently noted as one of the longest non-scientific words in the English language.

  1. ^ Findley, Michael J.; Findley, Mary C. (2017). Antidisestablishmentarianism: Disestablishing America's Established Religion. Findley Family Video Publications. Antidisestablishmentarianism means any opposition to the withdrawal of any state support or recognition from any established church.
  2. ^ "Definition of antidisestablishmentarianism". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  3. ^ Drews, Robert (January 2014). "Chapter Thirty- Six The Beginnings of Modernity in Europe and America" (PDF). Coursebook: Judaism, Christianity and Islam, to the Beginnings of Modern Civilization. 36: 4.