A meeting has taken place at Stormont between a Church of Ireland delegation led by Archbishop Robin Eames and the Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams.
It was the first public meeting between the Sinn Féin leadership and the Church of Ireland and comes two weeks after discussions between the DUP leader, Ian Paisley, and the Catholic Primate of All-Ireland, Dr Sean Brady.
Mr Adams told reporters that the meeting is a significant part of Sinn Féin's strategy to engage with Protestant Churches.
Dr Eames said afterwards that the bishops of the Church of Ireland were 'engaging in a process of engagement' with the political parties in Northern Ireland.
The Church of Ireland has previously held meetings with the Ulster Unionist Party, the SDLP, and the Alliance Party. The bishops have consistently and publicly voiced their belief that political progress can only be achieved by full and equal participation in and commitment to the structures of democracy.
Mr Adams was joined by Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald, Newry and Armagh MP Conor Murphy, south Down Assembly member Caitríona Ruane, south Belfast MLA Alex Maskey, and the head of Sinn Féin's outreach project to unionism, Martina Anderson.
Sinn Féin and the other Northern Ireland Assembly parties are currently deliberating the St Andrews Agreement which was unveiled ten days ago by Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taioseach Bertie Ahern.
The parties have until 10 November to say whether they will implement the deal or reject it.
Meanwhile, members of the British Irish Inter Parliamentary body are due to meet in Belfast for two days of discussions on the latest developments in the peace process.
