The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has officially broken spiritual ties with the Church of England, citing moral and doctrinal differences over recent leadership choices and the Church’s stance on same-sex marriage.
In a statement signed by the Primate, the Most Rev’d Henry C. Ndukuba, the Nigerian Church said it could no longer align with what it described as “theological confusion” within the Church of England. The move follows the appointment of Bishop Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, the first woman to hold the position.
“This election disregards the conviction of millions of Anglicans who do not support female headship in the episcopate. More troubling is that Bishop Sarah Mullally is a vocal advocate of same-sex marriage,” the statement read.
The Church recalled Mullally’s 2023 remarks after the Church of England approved blessings for same-sex couples, which she called “a moment of hope.” It said such views had deepened divisions already weakening the Anglican Communion.
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Reaffirming its commitment to the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), the Church of Nigeria said it would continue to uphold biblical authority and traditional Christian teaching.
“We remain committed to the authority of the Bible, our historic creeds, and holy living, regardless of ongoing revisionist pressures,” the statement said.
The Church urged conservative Anglicans in England and beyond to remain steadfast in defending biblical truth.
“We encourage all believers who have stood against same-sex marriage and similar departures from biblical standards to continue contending for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3),” it concluded.