Archbishop David Moxon will live on top of a treasure trove of art in Rome.

The Anglican Centre occupies a suite on the second storey of the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, a privately owned palace housing several galleries of Old Masters, a Baroque corridor of mirrors – and the mummified corpse of the family saint.

Anglicans reside there through the generosity of four princely Roman families who have inter-married under the surname of Doria Pamphilj.

The Anglican Centre itself comprises a tall library and seminar room, a simple chapel and a salone where up to two dozen gather every Tuesday lunchtime for a Eucharist, a bowl of pasta and a chat.

The Centre was founded only in 1966 – by Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey – to inaugurate “serious dialogue” between the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.

As well as fostering unity between the two churches, it offers educational courses and advice for Anglican visitors from all over the Communion. But it’s the potential for shared mission that excites Archbishop David about his new post.

“Our two churches are on the verge of new opportunities for joint mission,” he says, “especially in Christian aid, justice advocacy and development. I’m also convinced there are new opportunities to learn from each other.”

The Vatican is just a stroll away from the Anglican Centre.