The records of the Archbishops of Cape Town relate to the activities of the Church of the Province of South Africa (Anglican) in Southern Africa, comprising South Africa, Mozambique, the Rhodesias, the former protectorates of Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland and also St. Helena, which falls under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of Cape Town. These records cover the years 1835 to 1968 with the preponderance between 1848 and 1938.

The primary interest of the records is in the description they provide of the foundation and progress of the various dioceses, together with the development of a synodical form of government for the church. Also described is the work of the church in its missionary aspect. The researcher will also find material relating to the controversies between Bishop Gray of Cape Town and Bishop Colenso of Natal, which threatened to split the Anglican Church in Africa; issues relating to race relations; black nationalism; and the rivalry between Boer and Briton.

The Bishops and Archbishops of Cape Town accumulated these records in the course of their ecclesiastical duties. They are primarily concerned with the activities of the first two bishops, Robert Gray (1847-1872) and William West Jones (Bishop 1874-1897, Archbishop 1897-1908).