Use of Church Names Register

Please note that the Use of Church Names Register only applies in the State of New South Wales.

Section 6 of the Anglican Church of Australia Act 1976 (NSW) (the Act) provides that a person shall not, for the purposes of, or in connection with, any business, trade or profession use or cause or permit to be used the name ‘Church of England’, ‘Church of England in Australia’ or ‘Anglican Church of Australia’, or the description ‘Anglican’, whether that name or description is used with other words or not, unless he has been authorised so to do by or pursuant to a Canon of the General Synod of the Church of England in Australia or the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia.

The Use of Church Names Canon 1989 (the Canon) sets out the process by which a person may be granted authorisation to use the names referred to in the Act.  

An amendment made to the Canon in 2014 created a ‘Use of Church Names Register’ to be maintained and published by the General Secretary (section 9A of the Canon) and imposed an obligation on a Diocese, granting and withdrawing permission to use the names or descriptions ‘Church of England’, ‘Church of England in Australia’, ‘Anglican Church of Australia’ or Anglican’, to send a copy of the notice to the General Secretary.

The Schedule to the Canon lists bodies who are authorised by the Canon to use the Church name throughout Australia.

USE OF CHURCH NAMES REGISTER

(Section 9A(1) of the Use of Church Names Canon 1989)

The bodies listed below are deemed to have been authorised by a certificate under the Canon of the Bishop-in-Council of the Diocese in which the body has its principal place of business to use, throughout Australia, the form of the Church name used by the body as at the commencement of the Canon until such time as notice of withdrawal of the certificate is given:

• Anglican Boys’ Society
• Anglican Deaconess Ministries
• Anglican Encounter (Newcastle)
• Anglican Girls’ Friendly Society
• Anglican Insurances Agencies Pty Ltd
• Anglican Men’s Society
• Anglican Mothers’ Union
• Anglican Women (Newcastle)
• Anglican Women of Australia
• CA Brown Anglican Village, Booragul
• Church of England Historical Society
• Church of England Youth Department Diocese of Sydney Ski Lodge Limited
• Kambala Church of England Girls’ School
• Meriden Anglican School for Girls
• Mosman C of E Preparatory School Pty Ltd
• SCEGGS Darlinghurst
• SCECGS Redlands
• The Anglican Savings & Development Fund, Diocese of Newcastle

Bodies that have been authorised by a certificate under the Canon of the Bishop-in-Council of the diocese in which the person or body has its principle place of business.