The Disestablishment Of The Church Of Ireland — страница 3

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One must not forget that the circumstances of the church?s existence as in Ireland made its disestablishment a progressive move. The Established Church was that of a very small minority, just over eleven percent of the total population of Ireland. Giving it the advantages it had was an unjust move in regards to the substantial Roman Catholic majority of Ireland. By putting it on an equal footing with the other churches in Ireland and leaving it to support itself was the best move for all involved. Finally, the Church?s disestablishment was most likely inevitable, due to the circumstances surrounding its existence in Ireland. Whether or not disestablishment was inevitable at the time it occurred is debatable. The Irish Bishops possibly could have delayed disestablishment for

several years had they accepted the Royal Commission?s proposals. But in the end, it was most likely that the Church would have been disestablished, given the level of pressure for Disestablishment present at the time. Conclusion The Church or Ireland is still a minority church in Ireland today. The Church?s membership still remains very close to the level it was at Disestablishment. Before the Church of Ireland was disestablished, it had advantages over the other churches in Ireland. But even after disestablishment, through the hard work and commitment of its congregations it continued to be a strong church, and continues to be today. The Church of Ireland?s disestablishment was an inevitable, yet progressive move, but the process towards its? disestablishment was a very

political one. Notes: 1 Hugh Shearman, How the Church of Ireland was Disestablished (Ireland: The Church of Ireland Disestablishment Committee, 1970) p. 7. 2 Much of the information in this section from How the Church of Ireland was Disestablished, pp. 8-10 3 R.B. McDowell, The Church of Ireland (London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1975) pp. 27-28 4 P.M.H. Bell, Disestablishment in Ireland and Wales (London: S.P.C.K., 1969) pg. 43 5 Robert MacCarthy, Ancient and Modern (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 1995) pg. 50 and The Church of Ireland pg. 34 6 How the Church of Ireland was Disestablished, pg. 10 7 Ancient and Modern, pg. 50 8 How the Church of Ireland was Disestablished, pg. 12