American Anglicanism.

No denomination was more negatively affected by the Revolution and its outcome than the Anglicans, those who belonged to the official Church of England. The end of the war brought on a painful period of readjustment for them as they tried to create an American church that was true to their English traditions. The problem Anglicans faced in 1783 was their close identification with the English, who had lost the war for independence. Unlike all other Protestants, Anglicans considered the king of England to be a spiritual leader as well as a political leader. As Americans rejected King George's right to govern them in matters of taxes and laws, Anglicans found it impossible to continue to honor him as the leader of their church. Some reshaping of the beliefs and practices of the Anglicans was clearly called for, but the group...