Previously known as the Church of the Province of Southern Africa, it will now be known as the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.

Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane said the decision was taken because of confusion arising from the word "province".  

The Church in Southern Africa is "an ecclesiastical province of the worldwide Anglican Communion, but (there are also) nine provinces in South Africa and provinces in other parts of our region such as in Mozambique and Angola. So the word 'province' confuses people," Archbishop Ndungane said.

"The name change will not come in to effect immediately because it changes the constitution of the Anglican Church. It will only be finalised at the next session of the Provincial Synod in three years' time," he added.

05 July 2005