The Anglican Churches, 1783–1829

The period between 1783 and 1829 was one of significant change for the Anglican Churches. It saw the creation of an episcopate for the colonies and the foundation of the first Anglican province beyond the jurisdiction of the crown, in the newly independent United States. In the United Kingdom, constitutional changes eroded the Anglican monopoly in Parliament. The Church continued to grapple with a mix of problems which hampered its parochial ministry, and new challenges from Evangelicalism within and increasingly numerous Nonconformists without. Anglicans in Parliament sought to legislate to control abuses and to finance expansion of the Church’s ministry. Beyond the sphere of parliamentary activity, Anglicans (especially but not exclusively Evangelicals) proved particularly willing to experiment with new forms such as lay-led voluntary societies as a means of reinvigorating the Church. The Anglican Churches emerged from these changes as much more diverse institutions than in the previous century.