Our Story

The Centre was founded in 1966 with the encouragement of Archbishop Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI on the wave of ecumenical enthusiasm engendered by the Second Vatican Council and the birth of ARCIC (The Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission).

The Archbishop and the Pope trusted that the Centre would encourage the 'special relationship' between Anglicans and Roman Catholics through enabling full and frank discussion and debate on issues which unified them, and on those which divided them. True understanding, respect and affection would result. The Centre has continued to play a key role in encouraging the growing relationship between Rome and Canterbury. The Director is also the Archbishop's representative to the Holy See.

The Centre is housed by the Doria Pamphilj family in their famous palazzo in the centre of historic Rome. The family have a long tradition of encouraging ecumenical and inter-faith dialogue. The Francisican-run Centro Pro Unione and SIDIC, the centre for Jewish-Christian documentation, are also housed by the Doria Pamphilj family.

The Centre includes the library, a reading/seminar room, and a chapel dedicated to St Augustine of Canterbury.