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:
June 2006
'Greetings and Prayers' for New U.S Presiding Bishop
19 June 2006
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams has today issued a statement on the election of the Rt…
Archbishop of Canterbury's Greeting to the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America
13 June 2006
A greeting from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, given to the House of Bishops and the…
Coekin Appeal Allowed
5 June 2006
The Archbishop of Canterbury has today allowed an appeal by the Revd Richard Coekin against the summary…
May 2006
Tribute to Retiring Archbishop, Robin Eames
9 May 2006
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams has said today that Archbishop Robin Eames, Archbishop…
April 2006
Sudan Shows Easter Message Not Getting Through
18 April 2006
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams has said today that the ongoing suffering in Darfur and…
March 2006
The Guardian Interview
21 March 2006
Transcript of a wide-ranging interview given to Alan Rusbridger, for the Guardian newspaper. Topics covered…
Archbishop Sets Out Thinking on Lambeth Conference 2008
9 March 2006
The Archbishop of Canterbury has written a pastoral letter to the 38 Primates of the Anglican Communion…
Transcript of Archbishop's BBC Interview with Sir David Frost in Sudan
5 March 2006
The Archbishop visited southern Sudan, to offer support to Christian communities and to those projects…
February 2006
Archbishop: Sudan 'is Not Forgotten'
27 February 2006
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams has begun an 8 day visit to Sudan by telling the Christian…
Archbishop in Sudan: Religions of Peace Have to Show Trust in Each Other
27 February 2006
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has said that the claims of both Christianity and Islam…