Anglican Communion
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop of the worldwide Anglican Communion - a first among equals (“primus inter pares”) amongst fellow bishops.
The Anglican Communion is the third largest international denomination, after the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. It has over 80 million members, spread across 38 Provinces in 164 countries. Each of these Provinces is autonomous, with its own system of governance and senior archbishop or bishop ("Primate"). The Communion is not held together by a formal constitution or international church law, but rather by a shared heritage and what are termed "bonds of affection", by formal "Instruments of Communion" and through the Archbishop of Canterbury acting as a unique focus of unity. This sense of common identity has been nourished over many years by direct encounter and companion relationships at many levels. The Archbishop of Canterbury plays a leading role in nurturing the interdependent life of the Communion by visiting Provinces, convening meetings, facilitating initiatives, contributing to theological reflection and exercising a pivotal role within the Instruments of Communion.
See also: The Archbishop in the Anglican Communion: An Historical Note
Recent items relating to Anglican Communion are shown below:
February 2009
Archbishop - What kind of global communion do we want to be?
12 February 2009
The Archbishop on the Anglican Covenant, General Synod, London.
The Archbishop's Presidential Address, General Synod February 2009
10 February 2009
Impressions from the Lambeth Conference; Archbishops' appeal for Zimbabwe and women in the episcopate.…
Primates Meeting Communiqué
5 February 2009
Deeper Communion; Gracious Restraint: A Letter from Alexandria to the Churches of the Anglican Communion
Primates Meeting begins with celebration in Egypt
2 February 2009
The first day of the Primates Meeting in Alexandria has ended with the dedication of St. Mark's pro-Cathedral…
January 2009
Archbishop's Libya visit in pictures
28 January 2009
As part of a visit to North Africa, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd & Rt Hon Dr Rowan Williams…
Archbishop's visit to North Africa
28 January 2009
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, will visit North Africa from Wednesday 28th January…
Archbishop awards Cross of St Augustine to Anglican Communion Office staff
27 January 2009
The Archbishop of Canterbury yesterday awarded Deirdre Martin and Canon James Rosenthal the Cross of…
Archbishop meets with relief and development practitioners
22 January 2009
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, met last week with an invited group of relief and development…
December 2008
Archbishop of Canterbury's Christmas Message to the Anglican Communion
15 December 2008
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams' Christmas Message to the Anglican Communion
November 2008
Archbishop's letter to Moderators of the Churches of North India and South India
14 November 2008
The Archbishop wrote earlier this week to the Moderators of the Church of North India and the Church…