Find a Church of England parish near you
Share your location and we will show Anglican churches close to you, from village parish churches to city centre congregations.
How the parish system works
England is divided into around 12,500 parishes, and every address belongs to one. Your parish church is the congregation with formal care for the area where you live: you have the right to marry there (subject to legal requirements), to have children christened there, and to be buried from there, whether or not you attend regularly. Parishes are grouped into deaneries, deaneries into 42 dioceses, and each diocese is led by a bishop. The two provinces, Canterbury and York, are headed by their respective archbishops.
In practice, many people worship outside their own parish, and that is perfectly acceptable. Rural parishes are often grouped into benefices sharing one vicar or rector, so a village church may hold a service fortnightly rather than every Sunday. City churches usually offer several services each week.
What a Church of England service is like
Worship varies enormously between parishes, which is part of the Church of England's character. Broadly you will meet three styles:
- Traditional and liturgical. Services drawn from the Book of Common Prayer of 1662 or from Common Worship, with hymns, robed clergy, set prayers and often an organ and choir. The quiet 8am Holy Communion is a fixture in many parishes.
- Central or "middle of the road". A Common Worship Eucharist mid-morning, usually around 9:30 or 10:30am, mixing hymns with newer songs. This is the most common pattern in parish churches.
- Evangelical and charismatic. Informal services with a worship band, longer sermons and prayer ministry. The network around Holy Trinity Brompton in London, home of the Alpha course, has planted and renewed many churches in this style across the country.
Most churches celebrate Holy Communion weekly or fortnightly. Anyone is welcome to attend; if you are not confirmed or prefer not to receive, you can go forward for a blessing or simply stay in your seat. Nobody minds.
Cathedrals and choral worship
Each diocese has a cathedral, and England's cathedrals hold some of the finest choral music in the world. Choral evensong, usually sung in the late afternoon on weekdays, is free to attend and open to everyone. If that appeals, read our guide to choral evensong. Cathedral congregations have grown in recent years even as some parish attendance has declined, partly because visitors value the music, the anonymity and the sense of history.
Practical tips for a first visit
- Check the service time before you go. Grouped rural benefices rotate services between buildings, so the pattern changes week by week.
- Arrive ten minutes early and take a service booklet or hymn book from the welcomer at the door.
- Dress is ordinary and unfussy in most parishes. Smart casual is never wrong.
- Children are welcome at almost every service, and many churches run Sunday groups during the sermon.
- Stay for tea or coffee afterwards if it is offered. It is the easiest way to meet people.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to live in the parish to attend?
No. You may worship at any church you like. Living in the parish matters mainly for weddings and certain legal rights, and even then regular attendance elsewhere can qualify you to marry in that church instead.
Is the Church of England Catholic or Protestant?
It describes itself as both catholic and reformed. It keeps bishops, creeds and sacraments from the ancient church while holding Reformation teaching on Scripture and grace. Individual parishes lean in different directions, which is why two neighbouring Anglican churches can feel quite unlike each other.
How do I find service times?
Use the finder above, or browse the directory by countyand open a church's page for its listed times and contact details. When in doubt, most parishes answer emails quickly and publish a weekly notice sheet online.