Anglican Communion News Service

The possibility of joint parishes shared by the Anglican and Old Catholic Churches in mainland Europe, was held out by the Bishop in Europe, the Rt Revd John Hind, when members of the two communions met in Oporto, Portugal in June. "We are hoping we will be able to move towards joint parishes, but we have got to make some advances on the theological level as well," explained Bishop Hind. He said that there needed to be a further discussion on ecumenism, as "the Church of England is committed to a particular view of Church unity which goes beyond what the Old Catholics are committed to doing."

The Old Catholic Churches have been in full communion with Canterbury since 1932 and the most recent meeting was in Oporto and part of the continuing dialogue between the two Churches.