The Anglican Communion is the third-largest Christian communion in the world, consisting of 42 self-governing national and regional churches across more than 165 countries. Tracing their historic lineage to the Church of England, these member churches share common liturgical roots, the historic episcopate, and fellowship with the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Global structure: 42 provinces across 165 nations
Unlike the Roman Catholic Church, which is organized under the universal centralized jurisdiction of the Pope, the Anglican Church worldwide is structured as a voluntary confederation of autonomous national and regional churches, known as provinces. Each province possesses its own constitution, canons, and presiding primate (often titled archbishop or presiding bishop), governing its own internal affairs without external administrative interference.
Today, the Anglican Communion encompasses 42 autonomous provinces alongside several extra-provincial churches that fall under the direct metropolitan oversight of the Archbishop of Canterbury. These provinces range from historic national churches—such as the Church of England, the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Church of Ireland, and the Episcopal Church in the United States—to expansive regional bodies across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania.
In total, the communion represents more than 85 million baptized Christians globally. What binds these diverse bodies together is not a single binding catechism or international legal code, but a shared liturgical ancestry tracing to the English Reformation, mutual recognition of sacramental ministries, and historic ties to the See of Canterbury, as recorded in our study of the history of the Episcopal Church.
The four Instruments of Communion
To preserve unity and facilitate global consultation across self-governing provinces, the Anglican Communion relies on four consultative bodies known as the "Instruments of Communion" (or Instruments of Unity):
1. The Archbishop of Canterbury: The senior bishop of the Church of England serves as the spiritual head and focus of unity for the worldwide communion. The Archbishop is recognized as primus inter pares—"first among equals"—among the global college of bishops. Crucially, the Archbishop possesses no direct legal, administrative, or disciplinary jurisdiction over churches outside the Church of England, serving instead as a moral and pastoral focus of fellowship.
2. The Lambeth Conference: A decennial international gathering of all Anglican diocesan bishops from around the world. First convened by Archbishop Charles Longley in 1867 at Lambeth Palace in London, the conference brings hundreds of bishops together every ten years to pray, study Scripture, and discuss global mission, theological ethics, and social justice. Resolutions passed by the Lambeth Conference carry immense moral and consultative weight, though they are not legally binding on individual provinces until formally adopted by their respective synods.
3. The Primates' Meeting: Established in 1978 by Archbishop Donald Coggan, this body gathers the chief presiding archbishops, presiding bishops, and moderators of all 42 provinces every two or three years for mutual consultation and collegial fellowship on pressing ecclesiastical matters.
4. The Anglican Consultative Council (ACC): Formed in 1968, the ACC is the most representative and democratically structured instrument of communion. It meets triennially and includes ordained bishops, priests, deacons, and elected lay representatives from every province, ensuring that lay voices participate directly in guiding worldwide Anglican mission, relief work, and ecumenical dialogues, reflecting the worship life described in the Book of Common Prayer.
The rise of Global South Anglicans
The most dramatic demographic transformation within the Anglican Communion over the past century has been the decisive southward shift of its center of gravity. While Anglicanism was once an overwhelmingly British and North American communion, the overwhelming majority of Anglicans today reside in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
The numerical growth of African Anglicanism in the twentieth century is among the most extraordinary chapters in church history. Today, the Church of Nigeria reports more than 18 million baptized members, the Church of Uganda reports over 10 million, and the Anglican Church of Kenya counts roughly 5 million adherents. By comparison, active weekly attendance in historic western provinces, including the Church of England and the Episcopal Church, has experienced persistent secularization and demographic decline.
Global South Anglicans are characterized by theological conservatism, fervent evangelistic zeal, expressive charismatic worship, and strict adherence to biblical authority. In societies frequently facing economic poverty, political corruption, and religious persecution, Global South bishops prioritize bold gospel proclamation, social relief, and traditional biblical ethics regarding marriage, family life, and human sexuality, as examined in our overview of what Episcopalians believe.
Recent theological fractures: GAFCON and the GSFA
The sharp theological contrast between progressive Western provinces and conservative Global South churches has produced deep institutional fractures within the communion over the last twenty years.
The primary point of rupture occurred in 2003 when the Episcopal Church consecrated Gene Robinson, an openly gay man in a relationship, as Bishop of New Hampshire. Global South primates condemned the consecration as a direct violation of Lambeth Conference Resolution 1.10 (passed in 1998), which upheld traditional marriage and abstention from same-sex unions. In response, conservative leaders organized the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) in Jerusalem in 2008 and established the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA).
These international networks formed formal alliances with conservative North American believers who withdrew from the Episcopal Church, providing oversight that culminated in the 2009 founding of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). Tensions escalated further in 2023 when the Church of England's General Synod authorized liturgical blessings for same-sex couples, prompting the GSFA to issue statements declaring that they could no longer recognize the Archbishop of Canterbury as the authentic leader of global orthodoxy, as explored in our guide to Anglican vs. Episcopal differences.
What unites the Anglican Communion?
Despite deep regional disputes and institutional strains, the vast majority of Anglicans worldwide continue to profess a common theological core defined by the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral, adopted in 1888. The Quadrilateral articulates four essential benchmarks of Anglican unity:
- The Holy Scriptures: The Old and New Testaments as containing all things necessary to salvation and the ultimate rule of faith.
- The Historic Creeds: The Apostles' Creed as the baptismal symbol and the Nicene Creed as the sufficient statement of the Christian faith.
- The Dominical Sacraments: Baptism and the Holy Eucharist, ministered with unfailing use of Christ's words of institution and the elements ordained by Him.
- The Historic Episcopate: The office of bishop adapted locally to the varying needs of the nations and peoples called of God into the unity of His Church.
Across all 42 provinces, Sunday worship continues to be anchored in the celebration of the Eucharist, the reading of Scripture, and the ancient liturgical rhythms of common prayer, maintaining a global fellowship documented in our survey of Episcopal and Anglican churches by state.
What to expect when visiting an Anglican or Episcopal church
Visiting an Anglican or Episcopal congregation anywhere in the world offers a rich encounter with sacred tradition. Whether attending a grand Gothic cathedral in London, a dynamic outdoor parish in Kenya, or a suburban chapel in the United States, worshipers will find a recognizable service order grounded in the Word and Sacrament.
Liturgies are reverent and participatory, inviting attendees to kneel for prayer, listen to biblical lessons, and receive Holy Communion. To find an affiliated parish near you, explore our comprehensive directory of Episcopal and Anglican churches, and read our helpful guide to attending an Anglican or Episcopal service to prepare for your visit.