St Andrew's Anglican Church in Moscow is the sole Anglican church in Moscow, and one of only three in Russia (The Anglican Church in St Petersburg was established 1723). It continues the tradition of Anglican worship in Moscow that started in 1553 when Tsar Ivan the Terrible first allowed the English merchants of the Russia Company permission to worship according to their own beliefs. The Russia Company, now operating mainly for charitable purposes, continues to financially support the Anglican Church in Moscow through the congregation of St Andrew's.