“God has called us into a relationship, not only with himself, but also with one another, that our lives may be enriched as we learn and share in a partnership to bring about his mission in the world.”
(The Anglican Communion)
Canterbury Diocese has partnership links with Dioceses in Bodo (Norway) and Arras (France); with the Protestant Church Districts in Zossen-Fläming (near Berlin) and Markgräflerland (SW Germany); and has been in an Anglican Communion Companion Link with Madagascar for over 30 years.
Madagascar
Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world – two and a half times the size of Great Britain. The first Anglican missionary arrived in Madagascar in 1864, sent by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel and in 1874 the Diocese of Madagascar was founded. The number of Anglicans in Madagascar began to grow rapidly as of 1991 (Anglican Decade of Evangelism) and is now estimated to be close to 500,000.
There are now six dioceses within Madagascar:
- Diocese of Antananarivo. Bishop: The Rt Revd Samola Joana Ranarivelo.
- Diocese of Toamasina. Bishop: The Rt Revd Jean-Paul Solo.
- Diocese of Mahajanga. Bishop: Vacant (following Bishop Hall Speers’ retirement, March 2024).
- Diocese of Antsiranana. Bishop: The Rt Revd Joamindiny Jean Baptiste.
- Diocese of Fianarantsoa. Bishop: The Rt Revd Dr Gilbert Ratelson Rakotondravelo.
- Diocese of Toliara. Bishop: The Rt Revd Samitiana Jhonson Razafindralambo.
Link Bishop for Mauritius: The Rt Revd Joseph Stenio Andre.
Link Diocesan Bishop of the Seychelles and Archbishop of the Province of the Indian Ocean: The Most Revd James Wong Yin Song.
Our Companionship Link
The purpose of the Link is to extend the concept of Partnership in Mission to:
- Strengthen and encourage each other
- To exchange gifts and resources
- To gain new insights and understandings of God’s mission to the world
- To commit ourselves afresh to the task of mission.
It involves a commitment to:
- Sharing
- Prayer
- Encouragement
- Communication
- Financial support
You can support your Companionship Link by:
- Forming a Parish Link with one of the Malagasy clergy and their parishes – contact Archdeacon Will Adam or Carol Smith to find out more.
- Praying regularly for the people of Madagascar and the Companionship Link:
O Holy Spirit of the Living God
you call us into the fellowship
of your Church and to rejoice in our unity in Christ.
Fill us and all people everywhere
with your love and great power.
Bless our fellow Christians
here and in Madagascar.
Send us out in your power
to build up your worldwide Church
to break down barriers
and to serve you faithfully
Now, and for ever
Amen.
German Partnership: Markgräflerland and Zossen Flaming
The Diocese of Canterbury has a partnership with two church districts in Germany – Zossen-Fläming near Berlin and Markgräflerland in South West Germany near the Swiss and French borders. These churches belong to the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD), a fellowship of 20 regional Lutheran, Reformed and United churches. Each regional church is governed by a synod and can be likened to our own dioceses.
This three-way link between England and Germany started when Germany was divided. Zossen-Fläming was in the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany) and Markgräflerland in the West. The link is kept alive by annual meetings of representatives of the different churches hosted by one of them. In 2023 Bishop Rose led a delegation of adults and young people to the Black Forest. This was a notable meeting which brought together a large group of teenagers from the three churches. The young people who attended from Canterbury Diocese were part of the Diocesan ‘Growing Young Leaders’ programme.
We look forward to welcoming representatives from our partner churches to East Kent in 2025.
Partnership visit to Germany
A group from the Diocese of Canterbury visited Germany between 11 and 14 October to meet with groups from our diocese’s link churches in the Protestant Church of Germany. The group, led by the Archdeacon of Canterbury, Dr Will Adam, included teenagers from Whitstable and Canterbury and adults from Canterbury, Whitstable, Sittingbourne and Aylesham.
Our German links go back to the later years of the Cold War and were forged in the light of the ground-breaking Meissen Agreement between the Church of England and the Protestant Churches of East and West Germany. Germany was reunited in the early 1990s but we still maintain our relationships with church districts in Baden (South-West Germany) and Brandenburg (close to Berlin). This year’s visit was based on the theme of the role of the Church in the contemporary world. The group visited the Bundestag (the German Parliament) and remnants of the Berlin Wall; joined in worship in a village church in Baruth, south of Berlin and enjoyed fellowship and discussion on the common issues that face us as disciples of Christ in present day Europe. The young people have begun to forge friendships over the course of the last few years. The visit was supported by grants, including a grant from a trust to enable young people to experience the church overseas.