Dissolving the ‘Sacred Union’? The Disestablishment of the Church in Ireland

In 1869, Parliament disestablished the Church of Ireland, dissolving what Benjamin Disraeli called ‘sacred union’ church and state in Ireland. Disestablishment involved fundamental issues – identity purpose established church, religious nature state, morality appropriation property for secular uses, union Ireland Britain debate was carried on at a high intellectual level. With disestablishment, lost much its property, but it recovered, now as an independent Episcopal with renewed mission. The idea United Kingdom semi-confessional Protestant however, dealt serious blow.