The schism that is splitting the Anglican world in two at the global level is also becoming apparent in Spain.

In Valencia, a first congregation has formally joined a network of churches that reject the theological drift of the Church of England. They are now members of the ‘Anglican Convocation Europe’.

The pastor of the recently formed Comunidad Anglicana Evangélica de Valencia (Evangelical Anglican Community of Valencia), Julian Milson, explained to Evangelical Focus the reasons for their departure of the historic Spanish Anglican Church, IERE, in an interview (see below).

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Globally, the theological debate reaches a resolution

Worldwide, the former Anglican Communion under the leadership of the Church of England and its Archbishop of Canterbury (referred to as ‘first among equals’) has ceased to exist as it was known.

Following a long theological confrontation, particularly evident in the debates on same-sex marriage and LGBT inclusion, a large part of Anglicanism, led by Christian movements from the Global South, signed the ‘Abuja Affirmation’ in March.

In the Nigerian capital, 347 bishops from 27 Anglican ‘provinces’ across all continents formally launched the new Global Anglican Communion, which seeks a return to historic Christian faith and the centrality of the Bible.

The new Anglican network is not an “alternative” to the Anglican Communion, they insist, but the natural heir to its historic doctrines.

In this way, Anglican leaders of conservative evangelical theology are breaking away from the bishops of England and the US, whom they accuse of “having abandoned the authority of Scripture”.

 

Africa as the centre of the new movement

For this new path, churches with millions of members, such as those in Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda, have since 2008 (the year the Jerusalem meeting established Gafcon) received the explicit support of Anglican dioceses with significant theological weight, such as that of Sydney (in Australia).

Joining them are new Anglican churches formed in the US, Brazil, Canada, Chile and Europe with the aim of countering theological liberalism.

 

In practice, what does this mean?

The new global movement is withdrawing from the Lambeth Conferences and the meetings of Primates (the Anglican Communion’s main forum for international debate) and now no longer recognises the spiritual authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullaly, elected in 2025.

The impact could not be greater. In the episcopal tradition, the fact that entire Anglican regions no longer recognise Canterbury marks the end of Anglicanism as it has been known until now: both structurally and spiritually.

 

The position of the Episcopal IERE in Spain

In Spain, historic Anglicanism is organised around the Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church (IERE), which has around twenty parishes across the country.

Founded in 1880, its current bishop, Carlos López Lozano (in Madrid), has made it clear that he continues to align with Canterbury, and not with the new movement of evangelical theology.

In a statement in October 2025, the IERE reaffirmed its “full membership and commitment to the Anglican Communion”, at a time when “various international statements and declarations have raised questions and debates about the nature and future of that Communion”.

 

The bishop of the Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church “recognises as an authentic expression of the Anglican Communion that which maintains communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury”, the statement continued, “and participates in the instruments of consultation and unity that have historically served the Anglican Churches”.

Since his appointment and to the present day, IERE Bishop Carlos López has been a member of the Standing Committee of Ferede, the highest authority amongst the assemblies (Plenary Committees) of the federation representing Spanish evangelical churches and organisations before the state.

 

Valencia: first church to join the new Global Anglican Communion

However, there is a sector of Spanish Anglicanism that for years has disagreed with following the revisionist path of the Church of England.

Now, a church in Valencia has taken the step of publicly identifying with the new Global Anglican Communion.

 

The recently founded Evangelical Anglican Community of Valencia (CAEV) comprises around 30 people and was established in 2025 with its pastor Julian Milson, who is of English origin. After six years as parish priest in the city, he left the IERE, along with almost the entire congregation.

Having left the IERE temple in Valencia (on Calle 2 de Abril), the group now holds its Sunday services in a hotel and conducts Bible studies during the week in people’s homes.

On 31 May, this group celebrated its entry into the Anglican Convocation Europe (ACE, which in turn forms part of the Anglican Network in Europe). The aim of this local church is to come under a new umbrella of churches united by a Reformed evangelical theology. Other Anglicans in Spain may follow in their footsteps soon.

 

Service in Valencia: “Preaching the Word and calling people to faith in Jesus Christ”

At the ceremony welcoming the new denomination, Bishop Andy Lines said he had travelled to Valencia to “celebrate the reception of this congregation, the Evangelical Anglican Community of Valencia, into the Anglican Convocation in Europe, and the reaffirmation of Julian Milson in his ministry as Pastor”.

 

As he presented a Bible to the pastor, Lines called for “preaching the Word at all times, and that our worship and our life together may manifest the grace and truth of this book”.

The Bishop of ACE emphasised that the role of a pastor must be to “call everyone to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, so that many may come to know the good news of salvation, baptising them and teaching them to obey our Lord”.

Based on 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Bishop Andy Lines preached on the essence of the gospel and God’s call to mission.

Around 50 people attended the service, which also served to celebrate the Confirmation of two young members of this church.

 

Interview: “Our church, the first in Spain to join Gafcon”

Julian Milson, originally from England, who arrived in Valencia to lead the city’s Anglican church in 2019, has provided further details in conversation with Evangelical Focus.

Question. Why was Bishop Andy Lines’ visit important? For those unfamiliar with how Anglican churches operate, what did Sunday’s service signify?

Answer. Bishop Andy Lines’ visit was important because he is the bishop with pastoral responsibility for our church within the Anglican Convocation in Europe (ACE). His presence symbolised and publicly confirmed our incorporation into this family of Anglican churches.

The service was, in essence, a celebration of the work God is doing amongst us and of our new ecclesial affiliation. During the service, our reception into the ACE was formally confirmed, my pastoral ministry within this new ecclesial structure was reaffirmed, and several confirmations also took place.

For those unfamiliar with the Anglican tradition, it was a moment of public recognition of our church’s identity, mission and leadership within a wider Anglican diocese.

“We will collaborate with other churches in Spain that commit to the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ”

Q. Is the Anglican Evangelical Community of Valencia, then, the first Gafcon-affiliated church in Spain?

A. As far as we know, yes, our church, the CAEV, was the first church in Spain to be formally incorporated into an Anglican jurisdiction linked to the Gafcon movement. Since then, two other ACE congregations have also been established in Spain: one in Benissa and another in Vallès Occidental (Barcelona).

We are delighted to see the growth of a confessional evangelical Anglican witness in Spain and look forward to continuing to collaborate with other churches that share our commitment to the authority of Scripture and the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Q. Many will wonder, what reasons led you to the decision to leave the IERE, the historic Anglican Church in Spain?

“Certain provinces have adopted positions which, in our judgement, depart from the historical and biblical teaching of Anglicanism”

A. One of the decisive factors was that, in the summer of 2025, we became aware of activities and practices promoted by a pastor of the IERE which, in our view, were incompatible with biblical Christian faith, including elements related to paganism, esotericism, the occult and Freemasonry.

These matters were brought to the attention of Bishop Carlos López Lozano by other members of the clergy.

We understood that the bishop did not share our assessment of the seriousness of the matter and that the disciplinary measures we considered necessary were not taken.

Although our departure was not solely due to this specific case, for us it was a matter of conscience. We came to the conviction that we could not remain within a denomination in which practices of this nature within its ranks were not corrected in a conclusive and public manner.

Q. What specific aspects of the Anglican Communion still linked to Canterbury do you consider to be contrary to doctrine in accordance with the Bible?

A. Our primary concern is not so much with the Anglican Communion as a whole as with certain provinces and churches that have adopted positions which, in our judgement, depart from the historical and biblical teaching of Anglicanism.

Among these issues are the approval or blessing of sexual relations outside marriage between a man and a woman, the ordination of persons who maintain lifestyles incompatible with traditional biblical teaching, and a broader tendency to reinterpret biblical doctrines and teachings under the influence of contemporary cultural trends.

We believe that the Church is called to submit to the authority of Scripture above any cultural pressure. That is why we identify with the confessional Anglican movement represented by Gafcon, which seeks to uphold the historic faith received and expressed in Scripture, the ecumenical creeds, and the Reformed heritage of Anglicanism.