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8 October 2011
Last updated at 21:06 ET
The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams is visiting Zimbabwe as part of an African tour to try to heal deep divisions within the Anglican Church.
Dr Williams is due to preside over an open-air Eucharist in the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
There have been reports of violence between rival factions of Anglicans ahead of the archbishop's two-day stay in the country.
Dr Williams has also asked to meet Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
Dr Williams hopes to address the issue directly with Mr Mugabe despite warnings it could give the president an opportunity to make political capital.
The service was moved to the stadium after the city's Anglican cathedral was taken over by a renegade bishop, BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said.
Continue reading the main story Analysis
In publicly seeking a meeting with Robert Mugabe, Rowan Williams is taking something of a risk.
The Zimbabwean president, who routinely blames his country's history as a British colony for its problems, has no reason to favour the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Dr Williams has questioned Mr Mugabe's political legitimacy, and written an open letter holding him responsible for the persecution of Anglicans.
The archbishop has been warned that Mr Mugabe might simply use a meeting as a way of boosting his standing, making political capital without making significant concessions.
The former Bishop of Harare, Nolbert Kunonga, who appears to be Mr Mugabe's protege, has already accused Dr Williams of being a "a British diplomat representing neo-colonial interests".
In contrast, Mr Kunonga - who has declared himself an archbishop - is reported to have described Mr Mugabe as a "prophet from God".
Dr Williams might feel that being received by the president would further boost the status of his oppressed followers in Zimbabwe as authentic Anglicans.
But the archbishop is taking no chances.
If there is a meeting he intends to hold a news conference afterwards, to put his own interpretation on the event.
The archbishop is also due to visit grassroots church projects caring for orphans and HIV sufferers.
The Church in Zimbabwe has been bitterly divided since 2007, when the former Bishop of Harare Nolbert Kunonga separated from the Anglican communion amid rows over the ordination of gay priests and the policies of Zimbabwe's government
Dr Williams expelled Mr Kunonga - a staunch supporter of Mr Mugabe - but Zimbabwe's courts ruled the ousted bishop should retain control of church buildings in the capital.
Tear gas has been fired into churches which have remained loyal to Dr Williams, and churchgoers have been beaten as they have taken part in services.
Critics have accused Mr Kunonga of using people loyal to President Mugabe's Zanu PF party to carry out the attacks.
The country's violent regime has come under criticism from the Church in the past.
In 2007, the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, cut up his clerical dog collar in protest at Mr Mugabe's regime, saying he would not wear it again until the president had left office.
The archbishop's nine-day tour started in Malawi on Thursday, where he marked the 150th anniversary of its branch of the Anglican Church. He also visited Church initiatives, including a Mothers' Union literacy circle.
Dr Williams' spokeswoman has said he aims to "show solidarity" with fellow Anglicans and their bishops who serve the community despite "disruption, intimidation and even violence".
The archbishop closes his tour in the city of Kitwe, in Zambia's copper belt, where he will preach at another outdoor Eucharist and attend a national clergy conference.
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Dr Williams is due to preside over an open-air Eucharist in the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
There have been reports of violence between rival factions of Anglicans ahead of the archbishop's two-day stay in the country.
Dr Williams has also asked to meet Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
Dr Williams hopes to address the issue directly with Mr Mugabe despite warnings it could give the president an opportunity to make political capital.
The service was moved to the stadium after the city's Anglican cathedral was taken over by a renegade bishop, BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said.
Continue reading the main story Analysis
In publicly seeking a meeting with Robert Mugabe, Rowan Williams is taking something of a risk.
The Zimbabwean president, who routinely blames his country's history as a British colony for its problems, has no reason to favour the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Dr Williams has questioned Mr Mugabe's political legitimacy, and written an open letter holding him responsible for the persecution of Anglicans.
The archbishop has been warned that Mr Mugabe might simply use a meeting as a way of boosting his standing, making political capital without making significant concessions.
The former Bishop of Harare, Nolbert Kunonga, who appears to be Mr Mugabe's protege, has already accused Dr Williams of being a "a British diplomat representing neo-colonial interests".
In contrast, Mr Kunonga - who has declared himself an archbishop - is reported to have described Mr Mugabe as a "prophet from God".
Dr Williams might feel that being received by the president would further boost the status of his oppressed followers in Zimbabwe as authentic Anglicans.
But the archbishop is taking no chances.
If there is a meeting he intends to hold a news conference afterwards, to put his own interpretation on the event.
The archbishop is also due to visit grassroots church projects caring for orphans and HIV sufferers.
The Church in Zimbabwe has been bitterly divided since 2007, when the former Bishop of Harare Nolbert Kunonga separated from the Anglican communion amid rows over the ordination of gay priests and the policies of Zimbabwe's government
Dr Williams expelled Mr Kunonga - a staunch supporter of Mr Mugabe - but Zimbabwe's courts ruled the ousted bishop should retain control of church buildings in the capital.
Tear gas has been fired into churches which have remained loyal to Dr Williams, and churchgoers have been beaten as they have taken part in services.
Critics have accused Mr Kunonga of using people loyal to President Mugabe's Zanu PF party to carry out the attacks.
The country's violent regime has come under criticism from the Church in the past.
In 2007, the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, cut up his clerical dog collar in protest at Mr Mugabe's regime, saying he would not wear it again until the president had left office.
The archbishop's nine-day tour started in Malawi on Thursday, where he marked the 150th anniversary of its branch of the Anglican Church. He also visited Church initiatives, including a Mothers' Union literacy circle.
Dr Williams' spokeswoman has said he aims to "show solidarity" with fellow Anglicans and their bishops who serve the community despite "disruption, intimidation and even violence".
The archbishop closes his tour in the city of Kitwe, in Zambia's copper belt, where he will preach at another outdoor Eucharist and attend a national clergy conference.
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