The Anglican Network in Europe (ANiE), approved by conservative Anglican network GAFCON last year, was formally constituted and commissioned at an online service in April.
It was led by Bishop Andy Lines (see photo) with Archbishop Foley Beach as the preacher. Music was provided by the Glasgow-based New Scottish Hymns Band, and there were many messages of support from around the world, including, movingly, from Stephen Than, Archbishop of Myanmar.
Anglican without Canterbury
ANiE provides a way for congregations and church plants to be Anglican without being part of historic structures in communion with Canterbury. In some cases existing congregations have broken fellowship with bishops and the national church over an issue of serious doctrinal difference, for example when the Scottish Episcopal Church changed its canons on marriage, [and the Church of England made liturgical provision for recognising change in gender identity]. In other cases, congregations have been planted and grown which have always seen themselves as Anglican but have never been recognised by the official structures – as with most AMiE churches.
