Anglican Communion Office

The Anglican Communion Office serves and supports the Communion in over 165 countries around the world. It is based at St Andrew’s House in London and is the permanent administrative headquarters for the four Instruments of Communion.

The Office has a small team but its remit is huge. Its directors and staff – under the leadership of the secretary general, Bishop Anthony Poggo – serve the Anglican Consultative Council; the Primates’ Meetings and the Lambeth Conference. They also serve commissions, committees and various groups that are created from time to time. Directors and staff work in areas including mission, ecumenism and gender justice. The Office also has representatives at the United Nations in New York. The Office is also home to the Anglican Alliance and the Lambeth Conference Company.

In addition, the ACO acts as a meeting point and base for visiting Anglican/Episcopalian leaders.

The Office was established with the formation of the Anglican Consultative Council in 1968. Its original brief was to support communications between churches and provinces. Its work is supported by the inter-Anglican budget which is funded by contributions from the member churches and other grant-making bodies.

Watch an introductory film explaining the life of the ACO