A Solemn Eucharist and Blessing of the new Anglican Communion office (ACO) will be held Friday, 5 March at 10.30 a.m. with the Archbishop of Canterbury presiding.

The ACO moved into St Andrew's House, Westbourne Park, London, just before Christmas 2003. It is the former home of the Community of St Andrew, the original order of deaconesses for the Church of England. The sisters have given use of the building to the Communion at a "peppercorn rent" and one of the sisters is remaining at St Andrew's as chaplain to the office staff.

On Friday, Archbishop Rowan Williams will celebrate the Eucharist in the historic chapel and then bless rooms and offices throughout the refurbished building. The preacher will be Bishop John Paterson, Primate of Aotearoa. New Zealand and Polynesia, and chairman of the Anglican Consultative Council.

Donors to the project as well as representatives from around the Communion will join in the celebration according to ACC Secretary General Canon John L. Peterson. He said, "We expect people from Wales, Ireland, England, Uganda, Central Africa, West Indies, India, Palestine, USA, Syria, and many other places to be with us next week. Truly a global event." Members of the Compass Rose Society and the Tavistock Trust are also expected to attend as well as ecumenical guests.

Brochures on the new office can be obtained from the Secretary General at aco@anglicancommunion.org. There are opportunities available for those who want to be part of this historic move in having a true home for the work of the Communion. The facility includes guests rooms available at moderate cost to church visitors as well as meeting rooms.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu visited the new office on Ash Wednesday and led a service of Imposition of Ashes for the staff and answered questions in an interview for ACNS (See additional story by Michael Craske here). He was the first "official guest" coming to Saint Andrew's House. Already the Lambeth Conference planning group has met at St Andrew's as well as the Inter Anglican Finance Committee headed by Archbishop Robin Eames, Primate of All-Ireland.

The ACO moved from overcrowded space at Partnership House in London, where it had been for many years, sharing space with mission agencies and various other groups.

For information contact: jim.rosenthal@anglicancommunion.org