Church of England

The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and acts as the mother and senior branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion.

Governance and administration

The British monarch (at present, Elizabeth II), has the constitutional title of "Supreme Governor of the Church of England". In practice, however, the effective leadership falls to the Archbishop of Canterbury. The worldwide Anglican Communion of independent national or regional churches recognises the Archbishop of Canterbury as a kind of symbolic leader. Dr Rowan Douglas Williams has served as Archbishop of Canterbury since 2002.

Related Topics:
Elizabeth II - Supreme Governor of the Church of England - Leadership - Archbishop of Canterbury - Anglican Communion - Rowan Douglas Williams

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The Church of England has a legislative body, the General Synod. However, fundamental legislation still has to pass through the UK Parliament. The church has its own judicial branch, known as the Ecclesiastical courts, which likewise form a part of the UK court system.

Related Topics:
General Synod - UK Parliament - Ecclesiastical courts

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In addition to England proper, the jurisdiction of the Church of England extends to the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. In recent years, expatriate congregations on the continent of Europe have become the Diocese in Europe.

Related Topics:
Isle of Man - Channel Islands - Europe - Diocese in Europe

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