Anglican Church vs Uniting Church — what is the difference?
The Anglican Church of Australia and the Uniting Church in Australia are two of Australia's largest Protestant denominations, but they differ in three core ways: history, governance, and stance on contemporary issues. The Anglican Church is older, much larger (2.5 million Australians identify as Anglican vs 673,000 Uniting), and is led by bishops. The Uniting Church was created in 1977 by merging Methodist, most Presbyterian, and almost all Congregational churches, and is led by councils, not individuals.
Last verified: 2026-06-06. Figures sourced from the 2021 Australian Census.
Comparison at a glance
| Aspect | Anglican Church of Australia | Uniting Church in Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Founded as autonomous Australian church | 1962 (renamed 1981 from "Church of England in Australia and Tasmania") | 22 June 1977 |
| Formed from | Continuation of Church of England congregations in Australia | Merger of Methodist Church of Australasia, two-thirds of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, and almost all Congregational Union churches |
| Governance | Episcopal — led by bishops. 23 dioceses in 5 provinces plus Tasmania. Primate is the senior bishop. | Conciliar — led by councils, not individuals. Congregations → presbyteries → synods → national Assembly. |
| Members (2021 Census) | 2,496,273 (9.8% of Australians) | 673,260 (about 2.7%) |
| Women priests / ministers | Permitted from 1985 on a diocese-by-diocese basis. Sydney and North-West Australia do not ordain women as priests. | Women ordained since the church's founding in 1977. |
| LGBTQ+ ministry and marriage | Position varies sharply by diocese; no national same-sex marriage rite. | Local presbyteries decide on ordaining gay and lesbian ministers (since 2003). Individual congregations decide on same-sex marriage blessings (since 2018). |
| Worship style | Liturgical, using A Prayer Book for Australia. Vestments, set readings, structured service. | Varies — some congregations use Methodist or Presbyterian liturgical forms; others are contemporary. |
| Wider church body | Part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. | Independent national church; member of the World Council of Churches. |
| Community services | Anglicare and many diocesan agencies. | Over 400 agencies — one of Australia's largest non-government providers of aged care, disability services, and emergency relief. |
Origin and history
The Anglican Church of Australia traces back to the First Fleet in 1788 as a colonial extension of the Church of England. It became an autonomous national church on 1 January 1962 and adopted its current name in 1981. It belongs to the worldwide Anglican Communion, a network of about 85 million Christians under the symbolic primacy of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Uniting Church in Australia was created on 22 June 1977 when the Methodist Church of Australasia, around two-thirds of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, and almost all the congregations of the Congregational Union of Australia united under the Basis of Union — a foundational document that defines its theology and governance. The remaining third of the Presbyterian Church chose not to join and continues as the Presbyterian Church of Australia today.
Governance — bishops or councils?
This is the most visible difference. The Anglican Church follows episcopal polity: bishops have authority over their diocese, archbishops lead provinces, and the Primate is the senior bishop. Decisions on doctrine and practice are made by individual bishops and ratified through the General Synod.
The Uniting Church follows conciliar polity: no one person has final authority. Decisions move through four interrelated councils: the local Congregation, the regional Presbytery, the state-level Synod, and the national Assembly (which meets every three years). The current Assembly President is Reverend Charissa Suli, installed in 2024.
Theology and emphasis
Both denominations are mainline Protestant and share core Christian beliefs — the Trinity, the divinity and resurrection of Christ, the authority of the Bible, infant baptism, and regular celebration of Holy Communion.
Within Anglicanism there is wide variation between dioceses. The Sydney Diocese is conservative evangelical; the Melbourne and Adelaide dioceses sit closer to broad-church Anglo-Catholicism; rural dioceses vary. Within the Uniting Church, the founding traditions (Methodist, Presbyterian, Congregational) still shape worship and theology at a congregation level.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Anglican and Uniting Churches the same?
No. The Anglican Church of Australia is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion and is governed by bishops. The Uniting Church in Australia was formed in 1977 by a merger of the Methodist, two-thirds of the Presbyterian, and almost all the Congregational churches in Australia, and is governed by councils. They are separate denominations with different histories, governance, and theological emphases.
Which is bigger in Australia, Anglican or Uniting?
Anglican is significantly bigger. The 2021 Australian Census recorded 2,496,273 people identifying as Anglican (9.8% of the population), versus 673,260 identifying as Uniting Church (about 2.7%). Anglicans are the second-largest Christian group in Australia after Catholics; Uniting is third.
Do both ordain women?
Yes — but the Uniting Church has done so since its formation in 1977, while the Anglican Church has permitted women priests only since 1985 and only on a diocese-by-diocese basis. Two Anglican dioceses, Sydney and North-West Australia, still do not ordain women as priests.
What about same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ ministry?
The Uniting Church allows local presbyteries to decide whether to ordain gay and lesbian ministers (2003 decision) and allows individual congregations to determine their position on same-sex marriage blessings (2018). The Anglican Church's position varies sharply by diocese and there is no national same-sex marriage rite.
How is the worship different?
Anglican worship is liturgical and follows A Prayer Book for Australia, with vestments, set readings, and a structured service. Uniting worship varies more by congregation — some use formal liturgy inherited from the Methodist or Presbyterian traditions, others are contemporary. Both denominations celebrate Holy Communion (Eucharist) and Baptism.
Can I find Anglican and Uniting churches in my suburb?
Yes. The Australian Church Directory lists Anglican and Uniting congregations across all 8 Australian states and territories, with addresses, denominations, and contact details. Browse by suburb or by denomination.
Find a local congregation
Use the directory to find a church near you:
- → Browse Anglican churches in Australia
- → Browse Uniting churches in Australia
- → Browse all churches by state and suburb
- → Guide: how to find a Christian church in Australia
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics — 2021 Census, Religious affiliation (Anglican: 2,496,273 / Uniting Church: 673,260).
- Anglican Church of Australia — official website (anglican.org.au).
- Uniting Church in Australia Assembly — official website (uniting.church) and Basis of Union.