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:
April 2007
Press Conference With Church of Canada
16 April 2007
The Archbishop of Canterbury made the following responses to questions asked during a press conference…
Archbishop's Visit to Canada
12 April 2007
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams will be paying a short visit to Canada next week at the…
March 2007
Church Must Be Safe Place for Gay and Lesbian People
28 March 2007
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has said that the churches of the Anglican Communion…
Reflections on Angola, Africa and the Communion
17 March 2007
Transcript of an interview conducted by Dan Damon for the BBC Radio World Service programme Reporting…
'Slavery Still With Us' - Archbishops Publish YouTube Reflection
14 March 2007
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have today published an innovative online reflection on the nature…
Archbishop - International Community too Fixed on 'Success First, Help Second'
12 March 2007
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has told a Christian congregation in Angola that the…
Angola - Sermon in Luanda
11 March 2007
A sermon given by the Archbishop at a Eucharist for the Anglican congregations of the parish churches…
No One Can Be Forgotten in God's Kingdom - TEAM Conference, South Africa
9 March 2007
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has said that the Church stands for the principle that…
Archbishop and President Mbeki - Church and Nation 'Share Common Work'
9 March 2007
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has heard from South African President Thabo Mbeki that…
Archbishop Encourages Zimbabwean Anglican Church to Develop 'Independent Voice' on Human Rights
7 March 2007
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams and Archbishop Bernard Malango, Archbishop of Central…