Definition

Proper noun The worldwide family of churches in full communion with the See of Canterbury, sharing a heritage of faith, practice, and liturgy rooted in the Church of England. It is characterized by a common tradition of worship and a connection to the Archbishop of Canterbury as its spiritual head.

Usage

The term is used to refer to the collective body of autonomous churches that trace their origins to the Church of England and maintain a fellowship of faith and sacraments. - The Anglican Communion includes provinces as diverse as the Episcopal Church in the United States and the Church of Nigeria. - Leaders from across the Anglican Communion gather for the Lambeth Conference every ten years.

Advanced Usage

• To be in communion with: Describes the formal, sacramental relationship between member churches of the Anglican Communion.
  • The Scottish Episcopal Church is in full communion with the Church of England.
• Instruments of Communion: Refers to the four principal institutions that maintain unity within the Anglican Communion: the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference, the Anglican Consultative Council, and the Primates' Meeting.

Variants and Related Words

• Anglican (adjective): Relating to the Anglican Communion or its beliefs and practices.
  • She follows the Anglican tradition.
• Anglicanism (noun): The system of faith and practice of the Anglican Communion.
  • He is studying the history of Anglicanism.

Synonyms

• The Anglican Church (when used collectively)
• The Communion of Anglican Churches

Related Phrases

• Full communion: The relationship between churches that recognize each other's ministries and sacraments.
  • These two provinces are now in full communion.
• Broken communion: A state of impaired or severed sacramental and institutional relationships within the global fellowship.
  • The issue has led to a state of broken communion within the Anglican family.

Noun

1. the national church of England (and all other churches in other countries that share its beliefs); has its see in Canterbury and the sovereign as its temporal head