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 2012
Anglican Communion gathering at Lambeth Palace
12 July 2012
At a gathering for Anglican Communion guests at Lambeth Palace, the Archbishop of Canterbury expressed…
Peace is the only option for Sudan and South Sudan, says Archbishop
6 July 2012
"Peace is the only option which can allow the flourishing of South Sudan and its neighbour Sudan," the…
Young Peacebuilders meet with Archbishop Rowan
2 July 2012
The Archbishop of Canterbury met with a group of young people from around the world, gathered for The…
May 2012
Archbishop's message to the Episcopal and Catholic Bishops of South Sudan
11 May 2012
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has sent a message of support to a meeting of Episcopal…
March 2012
Archbishop of Canterbury to be Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge
16 March 2012
Archbishop Rowan Williams has announced his acceptance of the position of Master of Magdalene College,…
Archbishop: why the Covenant matters
5 March 2012
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, on why the Anglican Communion Covenant matters.
February 2012
General Synod: Archbishop speaks on recent violence in Nigeria
8 February 2012
The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned that Nigeria is under threat of "disintegration" at the hands…
Archbishop's pilgrimage to the Holy Land
2 February 2012
Archbishop Rowan Williams made a personal pilgrimage to the Holy Land, visiting Galilee, Nazareth, Jericho,…
January 2012
Anglican Covenant - the Archbishop of Cape Town responds to Archbishop of Canterbury
10 January 2012
The Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Revd Dr Thabo Makgoba, has written to the Archbishop of Canterbury…
December 2011
In Congo or in Croydon, God is there for us
24 December 2011
The following article by Archbishop Rowan Williams was published on Christmas Eve in The Times newspaper,…