Why the Church of England avoids using the word Saint
In short: In a move that distinguishes it from Roman Catholicism, the Church of England removes the title 'Saint' from its official calendar. This isn't just a naming preference; it is a deliberate theological stance on how to honor holy figures without making definitive claims about their heavenly status.
The Church of England operates under a unique framework for honoring religious figures. Unlike the Roman Catholic Church, which has a formal process for canonization, the Anglican Church has no official mechanism for declaring individuals as saints. Consequently, it avoids using the prenominal title 'Saint' for uncanonised people in its liturgical texts. This restraint is designed to prevent the implication of specific grades of sanctity or to create a perceived hierarchy between holy persons from different historical eras.
This approach creates a distinct liturgical atmosphere. Beyond honoring numerous figures listed within the General Roman Calendar, the Church recognizes significant post-Reformation believers uncanonised by Rome, focusing especially on individuals from England. Because they do not claim to know the heavenly status of these individuals, all such days are categorized as Lesser Festivals or Commemorations, making their observance optional rather than mandatory.
The calendar used in Common Worship was finalized in 2000, with minor additions in 2010. It serves as a key source for international daily offices like Oremus, showing how the English Church's local history influences global Anglican practice. While Old Testament figures are generally excluded from the main calendar, they do appear in specific litanies, suggesting they are not excluded on principle but rather by liturgical convention.
The only person canonised in a near-conventional sense since the Reformation is King Charles I (King Charles the Martyr), though he remains primarily recognized as such by his own society. By stripping away titles like 'Saint' for figures ranging from the Apostles to 20th-century missionaries, the Church maintains a focus on historical and spiritual influence rather than ecclesiastical decree.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Calendar of saints (Church of England)
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