Affirming Catholicism : The formative years of a liberal Anglo-Catholic organisation in the Church of England, circa 1985 to 2000

Abstract: This thesis is a history of Affirming Catholicism, a liberal Anglo-Catholic organisation within the Church of England, chiefly covering the period circa 1985 to 2000. It examines the rise of Affirming Catholicism, the events that led to its formation, the individuals involved, and the reasons why it came into being. It assesses how Affirming Catholicism’s theological and ecclesiastical identity evolved within the Church of England during the 1990s. It analyses this through the following themes: Catholicity, friendship, inclusivity, power and authority. It considers the place of Affirming Catholicism within the wider Anglo-Catholic tradition.This history is written as a form of collective biography, incorporating the founders’ and members’ own voices and views. This work goes beyond collating Affirming Catholicism’s early history, as it also discusses the character and identity of the organisation; its theological emphasis; and how it was perceived in the wider Church of England.