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:
July 2008
The Relationship between the People and God
28 July 2008
Address from Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth,…
The Archbishop's Sermon at St Dunstan's Church, Canterbury
27 July 2008
St Dunstans Church, Canterbury, welcomed the Archbishop of Canterbury and other bishops attending the…
The Church's Responsibility for the Environment
26 July 2008
An article in The Guardian newspaper by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.
Keep the Promise - Millennium Development Goals
24 July 2008
The Archbishop's speech, given at Lambeth Palace after the Walk of Witness, prior to an address by the…
International Development on the agenda at the Lambeth Conference
24 July 2008
The Lambeth Conference is one of the global Anglican Communion's Instruments of Communion. The current…
Archbishop's First Presidential Address at Lambeth Conference
20 July 2008
With stirring words the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, opened the first full plenary session…
The Archbishop's Retreat Addresses Parts III, IV & V
18 July 2008
The third, fourth and fifth of five addresses given by the Archbishop of Canterbury during the retreat…
The Archbishop opens the Lambeth Conference
17 July 2008
The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams opened the Lambeth Conference to the sounds of South African…
The Archbishop's Retreat Addresses Parts I & II
17 July 2008
The first two of five addresses given by the Archbishop of Canterbury during the retreat that began the…
A Common Word for the Common Good
15 July 2008
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has written a letter of response to Muslim religious…