The 1222 Synod of Oxford approved of two canons aimed against Jews living in England. The Synod was held on the 11th of June, and presided over by Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury and cardinal legate. This was a council of all England, and fifty canons were published in conformity with those of the Council of Lateran of 1215. However, the two canons dealing with the expulsion of Jews are not detailed. The only mention of them comes at the end of the article:
In the Oxford copy of these constitutions two others are added relating to the Jews.—Johnson’s Ecc. Canons. Tom. xi. Conc. p. 270. Wilkins’ Conc., vol. i. p. 585. Source: https://www.ecatholic2000.com/councils2/untitled-18.shtml
This Synod was Roman Catholic and eventually the laws that were passed resulted in the expulsion of Jews from England in 1290. The Protestant Reformation didn’t take off till after Martin Luther published his 95 theses on 2 November 1517 and the Church of England didn’t exist till 1534. Why, then, does the Church of England wish to apologise for something it had nothing to do with?
This article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edict_of_Expulsion gives an account of events since King Edward 1 of England signed The Edict of Expulsion on 18 July, 1290. It is worth noting that the edict was overturned during the Protectorate more than 350 years later, when Oliver Cromwell permitted Jews to return to England in 1657.
I found a related Christianity Stack question about the changing attitude of the Roman Catholic Church towards Jews. Although it does not deal specifically with my question, it is informative: Why did the Catholic Church change so radically after Vatican II in regards to the status of Jews?
My question is not intended to be contentious, and it is not about the rights or wrongs of either the Catholic Church or the Church of England regarding these historical events. I simply want to know why the Church of England feels it is necessary for them to apologise for events that took place in 1222 when England was a Catholic country.