Church of Ireland is a reformed catholic church in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Like the Church of England, it is a member church of the Anglican Communion . The Church of Ireland is independent and self-governing. It has its own constitution, laws, and prayer book, called The Book of Common Prayer. The church is divided into two large provinces, Armagh and Dublin, each overseen by an archbishop, and 12 smaller areas called dioceses, led by bishops. The clergy also includes priests and deacons. The governing body of the church is the General Synod, which has a House of Bishops and a House of Representatives. The House of Representatives consists of elected clergy and lay (nonclergy) members. The House of Bishops elects the highest official in the church, the archbishop of Armagh.
