As divisions within the Anglican Communion continue to sharpen, conversations about faithfulness, unity, and the future of global Anglicanism are no longer theoretical. They’re unfolding in real time across provinces, dioceses, and local churches throughout the world.
Recently, while traveling in Oxford, Canon Mark Eldredge sat down in person with Susie Leafe, Director of Anglican Futures UK, for a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation on the current state of the Communion, the future of Gafcon, and the growing realignment taking place among biblically faithful Anglicans.
Recorded in the historic city of Oxford, near the memorial to Latimer, Ridley, and Cranmer, the conversation carries with it the weight of Anglican history while also addressing some of the most pressing questions facing the Church today. Together, Mark and Susie reflect on the recent installation of the new Archbishop of Canterbury, the response of Global South and Gafcon primates, the implications of the Abuja gathering, and the continuing struggle of faithful Anglicans within the Church of England and the Church in Wales.
One of the clearest themes emerging from the discussion is the growing recognition that the center of global Anglicanism has shifted. While Canterbury once functioned symbolically as a focal point of Communion identity, many provinces across the Global South increasingly view faithfulness to Scripture, rather than institutional ties to England, as the defining mark of Anglican unity. The absence of many Gafcon and Global South primates from the recent installation service of Abp. Mullally in Canterbury was not simply procedural. It reflected a deeper conviction that historic Christian teaching can no longer be treated as secondary to institutional preservation.
At the same time, the conversation avoids triumphalism. Susie speaks candidly about the grief many conservative Anglicans in England still feel as they attempt to navigate increasingly revisionist structures while discerning how best to remain faithful in their local contexts. There is recognition that faithful believers have pursued different strategies over the years: some remaining within existing institutions to contend for orthodoxy, others helping form new Anglican jurisdictions rooted more explicitly in confessional clarity and global partnerships.
The discussion also highlights the significance of recent developments within Gafcon and the Global Anglican Future movement following the gathering in Abuja. For many Anglicans, the formation of new global structures and leadership frameworks has provided long-awaited clarity about the future of orthodox Anglican witness. Yet even here, the tone remains patient and pastoral rather than combative. Both Mark and Susie acknowledge that realignment within a worldwide Communion is rarely neat or immediate. These movements often unfold over decades rather than years.
Particularly moving is the conversation surrounding the Church in Wales, where recent decisions concerning same-sex blessings left many faithful clergy and congregations deeply unsettled. Susie shares how Anglican Futures walks alongside believers wrestling with difficult questions about conscience, ecclesial identity, and the future of faithful Anglican ministry in Wales. Yet even amid discouragement, there remains a hopeful vision for church planting, renewal, and long-term Gospel witness.
Throughout the conversation, one truth repeatedly surfaces: the future of Anglicanism will not ultimately be secured through institutional maneuvering alone, but through ordinary faithfulness to Jesus Christ. As Cn. Mark notes near the close of the interview, God’s concern isn’t merely with global structures and ecclesial debates but with the formation of His people. He is asking each one of us, “What’s happening in your heart?” It’s there that the Gospel’s seed is planted and grows.
We invite you to listen to the full Anglican Perspective Podcast episode below as Canon Mark Eldredge and Susie Leafe discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the Anglican Communion in this pivotal moment. For more information on Anglican Futures UK, our friends and partners across the Atlantic, please visit their website and subscribe to their blog for the latest news and updates here.
Click on the link below to listen in!
