The Church of Ireland (Irish: Eaglais na hÉireann) is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion, operating seamlessly across the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Like other Anglican churches, it considers itself to be both Catholic and Reformed.
When the Church of England broke with the Pope and communion with the Roman Catholic Church, the ancient Church of Ireland likewise underwent reformation, keeping its legal status and possessions even as it changed its doctrine. Thus today the church, in its cathedrals and churches, retains much of the island's heritage of medieval construction. The newly independent church was not however able to bring the majority of the population along with it; the Roman Catholic Church retained the loyalties of most inhabitants and continues to do so to this day. Despite its numerical minority, however, the Church of Ireland remained the official state church until it was disestablished in 1871. Church numbers fell sharply during the 20th century, particularly in the Republic following its independence; the latest census records from the Republic (2006), however, include a rare instance of relative increase.
Today the Church of Ireland is, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest church in the island of Ireland. It is the largest Protestant church in the Republic of Ireland, and the second largest in Northern Ireland (after the Presbyterian Church in Ireland). It is governed by a General Synod of clergy and laity and organized into twelve dioceses. It is led by the Archbishop of Armagh (styled "Primate of All Ireland"), at present Alan Harper; the church's other archbishop is Archbishop of Dublin John Neill.