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Belfast welcomes world meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council

Friday June 26th 2026

Belfast is preparing to welcome 140 guests including bishops, clergy, laity and observers for the start of the world meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) which runs from June 28 – July 4.

The eight-day gathering is hosted by the Church of Ireland and gets underway on Sunday afternoon with an Opening Service in St Anne’s Cathedral.

The Dean of Belfast, the Very Rev Stephen Forde, said: “It’s a tremendous privilege for us at Belfast Cathedral to welcome delegates from every corner of the world for the services which open and close the 19^th Meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council.

“This meeting of the ACC will be addressing some of the most demanding issues facing our world today. The meeting also addresses the most pressing concerns of the worldwide Anglican communion. At St Anne’s Cathedral we will offer these issues and concerns to our merciful God through gathered prayer, inspiring worship and the fellowship of shared communion.”

The preacher at the opening service on June 28 will be the Chair of the Anglican Consultative Council, Canon Maggie Swinson, while the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Sarah Mullally, making her first visit to Northern Ireland since becoming the first woman to lead the Church of England and the Anglican Communion following her election and formal installation, will preach at the closing service on July 5.

Dean Forde said: “It is an honour for us that the new Archbishop of Canterbury has chosen this meeting of the ACC in Belfast, for her first visit to the Church of Ireland. We warmly welcome her to our city and province as she brings to us her insights and understanding of the worldwide Anglican church.”

Representatives from 38 Provinces from the Anglican Communion and four extra provincials are arriving in the city for the historic conference. The bulk of conference business will be conducted at Assembly Buildings in the centre of Belfast.

Speakers will include:

• The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev and Rt Hon Sarah Mullally
• The Chair of the Anglican Consultative Council, Canon Maggie Swinson
• The Vice-Chair of the Anglican Consultative Council, the Most Rev Hosam Naoum (Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem and Primate of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East).
• The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Rt Rev Anthony Poggo
• The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, the Most Rev John McDowell

Before setting off for Belfast, Archbishop Mullally said: “In a fractured world, and an often-divided church, the Anglican Communion is such a profound gift.

“As I begin my ministry as Archbishop of Canterbury, I am so grateful for this global community of Anglicans, all bound by our shared faith in Jesus Christ. I am looking forward to spending time at the Anglican Consultative Council with bishops, clergy and laity from across the world, celebrating our common ministry, enriching one another’s faith, and looking for new ways to walk together.

“In this spirit of collaboration, I return to my favourite proverb: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together’. I believe that by working together, and with God’s help, the Anglican Communion can offer good news to a world in great need.”

In his welcoming address, the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, the Most Rev John McDowell, will give delegates and guests a ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’ (hundred thousand welcomes) and express the hope they will gain a deeper and more valuable understanding of Northern Ireland and its wonderful people.

Archbishop McDowell will say: “Things have been rather difficult recently with poisonous race-hatred scenes on a few of our streets. This garnered so many headlines because it was so unusual. Let me say clearly that what you saw on your television screens was not Northern Ireland or 99.9 per cent of the population.

“We are a welcoming people – historically, no strangers to being newcomers and emigrants – and we value all of those who have come here from all over the world and now call Northern Ireland home.

“We have made great strides since our ground-breaking Belfast Agreement 28 years ago, but it remains a work-in-progress where the business of reconciliation, peace and bridge-building, respect and ecumenical endeavour continue.

“Global Anglicanism faces challenges. I know that with the guiding hand of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we will advance our mission for the promotion of the Kingdom of God and encouragement for the millions of Anglicans worldwide.”

Over the course of ACC-19 – so named because it’s the 19^th gathering since its inception in 1969 – delegates will discuss and debate discipleship and evangelism; the migrant crisis; Anglican identity; education; peace and conflict; the environment; Christian unity and church ‘planting’ where the aim is to start or revive one million churches in the next decade.

One of the distinctive elements of ACC-19 will be a day-long pilgrimage through Derry/Londonderry on Wednesday  July 1, hosted by the Rt Rev Andrew James Forster, the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe. Delegates will walk a path through sites of historic and symbolic significance, tracing Northern Ireland’s journey from conflict to peace.

The day has been designed as a living encounter with Irish history and the Church of Ireland’s ministry in the midst of sectarian conflict and Northern Ireland’s peace process. It is an opportunity for the international delegation to learn from the host church’s experience and to reflect on how Anglicans can support peace and reconciliation work around the world.

More on ACC 19.

To follow news about ACC-19 next week, follow the social media stream for the Anglican Communion Office and Anglican News.

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