It consists of an annually replaced 16 residential members from around the world,[2] and around 20 non-residential members who live and work in the London area. Members may be aged 20–35.[3] The community is dedicated to Saint Anselm, and is under the patronage of the current Archbishop of Canterbury, the primus inter pares of the Anglican Communion.[1] The archbishop serves as the abbot,[4] assisted by a prior,[3] and the community abides by a Benedictine rule of life.[2][3][1] The Community of Saint Anselm is of an ecumenical nature; part of its purpose is to bring people from different countries and different Christian denominations together,[5] and four members of the Catholic Chemin Neuf Community live with and support the community.[3]
The quasi-monastic institute was founded in September 2015 at the initiative of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who stated his intention "that Lambeth Palace be not so much a historic place of power and authority, but a place from which blessing and service reach to the ends of the earth".[6] Part of the rationale for the new community was a desire to meet the needs of young people considering a monastic path but reluctant to embark upon a potentially lifelong commitment.[3] The American theologian Stanley Hauerwas was cited as an influence on the new initiative.[7] Comparisons have been drawn to a gap year,[2] though this analogy was not promoted by the archbishop's chaplain, Jo Bailey Wells,[3] who was instrumental in establishing the community.[7] In 2018 Welby said of the community, "it’s grown: it’s developed, it’s got much deeper roots, it’s wonderful — and we’re seeing other communities growing up in other places".[8]
