ICS is an international Church of England mission agency which seeks to make known the Christ of the Scriptures to people of any nationality who speak English. We do this by
· planting and growing international churches
· outreach to tourists through our Seasonal Chaplaincies
· helping people find churches abroad e.g. by publishing the Directory of English-speaking Churches Abroad

To find out more about ICS publications go to our books page. For a digest of articles about ICS's work and mission in general please click here

ICS's ministry is to people who speak English - of which there are around 1.5 billion in the world, when you take into account people who speak it as a foreign language as well as those for whom it is their mother-tongue. ICS partners around 55 chaplains and assistant chaplains working in 65 new and long established congregations, ministering to English-speakers. We also provide seasonal chaplains in holiday resorts in Europe and the Mediterranean.

ICS operates in many countries in Europe and Mediterranean, as well as in the South Atlantic. We also have associate chaplains in South America.

We were founded in 1823 (see Our history) and have worked in most parts of the world looking after the spiritual and practical needs of people from countless nationalities, backgrounds and economic circumstances. From the 1830's onwards we began planting churches in mainland Europe and now our work is mainly focussed on mainland Europe, and places in and around the Mediterranean. We also work in the South Atlantic and South America. In the Church of England's Diocese in Europe alone we are responsible for recommending for appointments in over thirty of its chaplaincies (the Church of England's term for a church or parish overseas).

All chaplains linked to ICS work under the licence of the Bishop in whose Anglican diocese they minister and this work under his authority. ICS works closely with all diocesan bishops, their staff, and the congregations it partners for example in the management of appointments and church-planting and other ministry projects.

All chaplains whose appointment ICS is responsible for, and all associate chaplains linked to ICS, subscribe to our Basis of Faith.