This week in Christian history: Thomas Becket murdered, Church of Ireland disestablished

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, December 29, 2024

Church of Ireland disestablished – Jan. 1, 1871

Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland. | Courtesy of Christ Church Cathedral

This week marks the anniversary of when the Church of Ireland, the Anglican Church for the Roman Catholic-majority nation of Ireland, was officially disestablished.

After Protestant England took control of Ireland, it established the Church of Ireland, requiring the island’s Catholic majority and non-Anglican Protestants to support the denomination.

As Irish Catholics gained more rights in the United Kingdom, lawmakers passed the Irish Church Act in 1869, which did not take effect until 1871, to allow for proper implementation.

In addition to removing direct state support for the Church of Ireland, the law also halted the practice of having the monarch appoint the denomination’s bishops.

“It is worth recalling the events around 1871 not only on account of their inherent interest and the fascinating personalities involved, but also because without understanding them we cannot adequately grasp how the Church of Ireland understands itself to this day,” explained the modern Church of Ireland.

“[This includes the] largely successful transition of the Church of Ireland from being a privileged minority to being a confident and influential minority, striving to look beyond itself and to offer its Christian voice and service in the context of the common good.”