Anglican Communion

British  

noun

1. a group of Christian Churches including the Church of England, the Church of Ireland, the Episcopal Church in Scotland, the Church in Wales, and the Episcopal Church in the US, all of which are in full communion with each other

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Anglican Communion Cultural  

1. The group of Christian church es historically based in the Church of England. Anglicans combine Catholic and Protestant elements in their teaching, worship, and government. They have bishops, for example, but do not accept the authority of the pope.

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Nearly all of the churches of the Anglican Communion are in countries that once were possessions of Britain, including the United States, where the Anglican Communion is represented by the Protestant Episcopal Church. Anglicans use the Book of Common Prayer (see also Book of Common Prayer) in worship.

Example Sentences

He has previously insisted the "majority of the Anglican Communion still believes that the Bible requires a male-only episcopacy".

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

In nods to the diversity of the Anglican Communion, various languages will feature in the service, including singing in Urdu, a Gospel reading in Spanish and a prayer in the Bemba language of Zambia.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

The Anglican Communion is made up of 42 provinces in 165 countries around the world.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

Although the decisions of Synod do not directly affect what Anglican churches around the world teach, some such churches have threatened to leave the Anglican Communion over the issue of blessings for same-sex unions.

From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026

I knew the Bishop well, and am persuaded that the bond that held him in the Anglican Communion might easily have snapped, under contingencies to which he was not exposed.

From Letters of Lord Acton To Mary, Daughter of the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone by Acton, John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, Baron