Anglican Communion Backs Plan to Plant or Restore One Million Churches

Key Facts

Published: July 14, 2026 Location: Belfast Source: Anglican Communion Office, Anglican Consultative Council, Pew Research Center

• Anglican leaders are calling for one million new or restored churches by 2036.
• Vision36 aims to welcome an estimated 20 million new believers.
• Africa’s rapidly growing Christian population is expected to be central to the initiative.

Vision36 seeks to reach 20 million people with the Gospel during a decade-long evangelism and discipleship campaign

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – Anglican leaders have approved an ambitious initiative to plant or restore one million churches worldwide over the next decade, with the goal of bringing congregations closer to local communities and welcoming an estimated 20 million new believers.

The Vision36 proposal was presented at the 19th meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council in Belfast by the Anglican Communion Commission for Evangelism and Discipleship. The council subsequently passed a resolution supporting the church-planting initiative.

Running from 2026 through 2036, Vision36 calls on every Anglican province, diocese, and parish to participate by establishing new congregations or renewing churches that have declined.

“It’s a vision to take the church to the world, as close to the people as possible, so that nobody has to walk a long distance to find the nearest Anglican church,” said Canon Robert Sihubwa of the Church of the Province of Central Africa.

Africa is expected to play a central role in the effort as the global center of Christianity continues to shift southward. Pew Research Center reported that sub-Saharan Africa was home to approximately 697 million Christians in 2020—about 31% of the world’s Christian population—surpassing Europe as the region with the largest number of believers.

Vision36 is also connected with JC2033, a global Christian movement preparing to commemorate the 2,000th anniversary of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Anglican leaders said the approaching milestone presents an opportunity for churches to renew their commitment to evangelism, discipleship, prayer, and the Great Commission.

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