Church of Bangladesh

Church of Bangladesh
চার্চ অব বাংলাদেশ
St. Thomas Cathedral of the Metropolitan Diocese of Dhaka
Abbreviation	C of B
Classification	Protestant
Orientation	Anglican Presbyterian
Scripture	Holy Bible
Theology	Reformed
Polity	Mixed polity with episcopal and presbyterian elements[1]
Governance	Episcopal
Structure	Synod
Archbishop & Primate	The Most Reverend Samuel Sunil Mankhin; enthroned on 5 December 2018 (Archbishop of Dhaka)
Deputy Moderator	The Right Reverend Shourabh Pholia (Bishop of Barisal)
Bishops	3
Cathedral	3
Associations	Anglican Communion, World Communion of Reformed Churches[2]
Region	Bangladesh
Headquarters	Moderator & Dhaka Diocesan Bishop's Office 54 Johnson Road, Sadarghat Dhaka 1100 Bangladesh
Territory	Bangladesh
Origin	30 April 1974; 50 years ago (1974-04-30) Dhaka, Bangladesh
Separated from	Church of Pakistan
Parishes	151
Members	25000+ (as of 2024)
Priests	31
Missionaries	Brotherhood of the Epiphany Sisterhood of the Epiphany Christa Sevika Sangha St. Mary’s Sisterhood St. Paul’s Brother Hood
Hospitals	2
Nursing homes	1
Primary schools	44
Tertiary institutions	1 (St. Andrew's Theology College, Bangladesh)
Other name(s)	CoB
Publications	Kapot (কপোত)
Official website	churchofbangladesh.org
Slogan	Witnessing Christ

The Church of Bangladesh (Bengali: চার্চ অব বাংলাদেশ) is a united Protestant church formed by the union of various Protestant churches in Bangladesh, principally the Anglican and Presbyterian denominations. The Church of Bangladesh is a member of the Anglican Communion and the World Communion of Reformed Churches.

The history of the plantation of this united Protestant church is quite old. Presbyterianism and Anglicanism in Bengal became established from the time of British rule in colonial India; since the Anglican Church in England is called the Church of England, the Anglican Church in undivided India was known as the Church of India, Burma and Ceylon, which eventually became the Church of North India, Church of South India and Church of Pakistan; after the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan, the Church of Bangladesh emerged from the Church of Pakistan.

The Church of Bangladesh currently has three dioceses – Dhaka Diocese (Archbishop Samuel Sunil Mankhin), Kushtia Diocese (Bishop Hemen Halder), and Barisal Diocese (Bishop Shourabh Pholia). There are a total of 8 deaneries and 115 parishes under the three dioceses. The population is about 22,000. Membership is diverse, including many different cultures. About half of the total members are from the Garo, Santal, Marma and Chakma ethnic groups of Bangladesh.