Province of Alexandria officially inaugurated as 41st Province of the Anglican Communion

Publish Date: 07-Jul-2020

The former Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa of the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East completed its transition into the Province of Alexandria, an autonomous Province of the Anglican Communion.

The Province of Alexandria serves 10 countries: Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Chad, Mauritania, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia. It is named after the north Egyptian city which was home to one of the earliest branches of the Christian Church.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said that he was “absolutely delighted” to welcome the inauguration of the new Province of Alexandria as the 41st Province of the Anglican Communion. “Of course it has been part of the Anglican Communion for very many years, going right back into the past”, he said. “It has been part of the Episcopal Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East but now with growth and development and the planting of churches in the Horn of Africa and elsewhere; with its service to its community regardless of ethnicity or of religion, it has grown to the point where it is now becoming an independent Province.”

The Chair of the Anglican Consultative Council, who is the Primate of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, Archbishop Paul Kwong, described the territory of the new Province as being “lands full of rich, diverse and historic civilisations, cultures, religions and socio-politics.”

He said: “The Province named after Alexandria, the famous ancient home to a lighthouse ranking among the Seven Wonders of the World, a storied library and a seat of learning, will have a lot to offer equally and significantly to the Anglican Communion today. I am convinced that the new Province will play a much larger role in inter-faith dialogue and involve more actively in health care ministry than the former diocese once committed.” He added: “I look forward to serving with Archbishop Mouneer in the Communion.”