Every diocese in the Church of England has a link with another diocese in the Anglican Communion.
Since 1972, Salisbury diocese has been linked with the Episcopal Church of Sudan, and since 2011 with the Episcopal Church of Sudan and South Sudan.
Since the independence of South Sudan from Sudan in 2011 the Diocese of Salisbury continued to link with the Episcopal Church of the whole province of Sudan, spanning both Sudan and the new country of South Sudan. On 30th July 2017 the 39th Province of the Anglican Communion was inaugurated by Archbishop Justin Welby (Archbishop of Canterbury); the Diocese of Salisbury now links with both the Province of South Sudan and the Province of Sudan.
It is one of the oldest diocesan links, set up in 1972 by the then Bishop of Salisbury, George Reindorp, and his colleagues in Sudan.
Unlike an aid agency, the Salisbury-Sudan Link is based on mutuality: that two churches separated by distance and culture can care for one another in sharing resources, experience and practical help. Central to the Link is prayer for one another, strengthened by relationships between peoples of all three countries.
Practical ways in which the Salisbury part of the link has been supporting the Episcopal Church include:
Educational – by supporting the theological colleges, education in ECSSS schools and youth work.- Medical – by providing basic health care through medicines and equipment to ECSSS clinics, and helping to fund the training of nurses.
- Advocacy – by working with Governments, NGOs, the Churches and International Partners to lobby for sustained peace and security for effective support for Sudan (North) and South Sudan; to end conflict and rapidly respond to security and humanitarian crises and encourage the provision of better education and health for all.
- Communications – by informing anyone interested on matters about Sudan and the Link, through prayer vigils at Salisbury Cathedral, the annual Sudan Study day, through the website and social media , through a quarterly bulletin, and by providing speakers and display material, and facilitating visits from Sudanese church members.
To find out more about the Salisbury- Sudans link visit their website .