I FEEL I must correct the statement made by the Rev Jim Garrard (LET, December 27).

Although the Church of England is technically a breakaway from the Holy Roman Catholic Church, Mr Garrard failed to mention that this division was nothing to do with the teachings of the Catholic church but was made by the spite and desires of King Henry VIII when he was refused permission to divorce and marry again by the Pope.

It is not allowed by God's holy law so Henry ordered his men to smash up all monasteries and contents and declared to the British public that they would face death if they did not become members of this new church, the Church of England.

But many faithful Catholics held true to the faith and ignored the threats of Henry and held Masses in secret until free worship was reinstated. Thus the RC doctrine is still prevalent in this country today.

The Church of England is responsible for many more breakaway splinter faiths because of members not being happy with its teachings. King Henry has a lot to answer for.

If the Church of England is a voluntary breakaway from the Holy Roman Church, why do its members acknowledge one apostle and Catholic Church in the creed? It may be that God knew the Henry VIII Church would break up after a few hundred years and it seems to be doing that now by not practising what the Bible teaches.

I am beginning to think that Church of England preaches what people want to hear and not the law of God.

PAUL Lynch, Douglas Place, Roe Lee, Blackburn.