In addition to being the official church in England, the Church of England is also the mother church of the Anglican Communion. This is a group of churches in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury. However, each national or regional church has complete autonomy.
Full communion indicates that all rites conducted in one church are recognised by the others. Each church has its own doctrine and liturgy, mostly derived from that of the Church of England. In addition, each church in the communion carries out its own legislative procedures under the leadership of a local primate.
The Anglican Church spread around the globe initially first by colonisation and later by missionaries. The actual phrase “Anglican Communion” was coined in 1885 to refer to this worldwide network of churches.
The Anglican Communion is organised into 38 geographical provinces located in 161 countries. Each province is headed by a chief bishop or Primate. These provinces in turn consist of dioceses, each overseen by a bishop. Then dioceses are composed of parishes, the small local areas.
The total number of members of the communion is around 84 million. Nigeria, for example, attracts more Anglican worshippers to church on a Sunday morning than the provinces of the United States, England and Canada combined.
All the bishops of the communion meet up once a decade at the Lambeth Conference which is presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury. It's held at Lambeth Palace, the Archbishop’s official residence. The primates also hold regular meetings and unity and administration are facilitated by the Anglican Consultive Council.
Full communion indicates that all rites conducted in one church are recognised by the others. Each church has its own doctrine and liturgy, mostly derived from that of the Church of England. In addition, each church in the communion carries out its own legislative procedures under the leadership of a local primate.
The Anglican Church spread around the globe initially first by colonisation and later by missionaries. The actual phrase “Anglican Communion” was coined in 1885 to refer to this worldwide network of churches.
The Anglican Communion is organised into 38 geographical provinces located in 161 countries. Each province is headed by a chief bishop or Primate. These provinces in turn consist of dioceses, each overseen by a bishop. Then dioceses are composed of parishes, the small local areas.
The total number of members of the communion is around 84 million. Nigeria, for example, attracts more Anglican worshippers to church on a Sunday morning than the provinces of the United States, England and Canada combined.
All the bishops of the communion meet up once a decade at the Lambeth Conference which is presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury. It's held at Lambeth Palace, the Archbishop’s official residence. The primates also hold regular meetings and unity and administration are facilitated by the Anglican Consultive Council.