The service acknowledged the pain, hurt and sorrow caused by the actions and inactions of the church, and sought to act as a step towards healing, forgiveness and reconciliation.

The Anglican Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn, Reverend Stuart Robinson, made a public apology before local priests led their own congregations in services across the diocese.

"The general response in my community, many people were in tears, there was a heavy feeling of sorrow and the chance to lament the immense pain," Rector of Anglican parish of Wagga, Father Michael Armstrong, said.

"It's also about us, as a church, asking for forgiveness.

"For us, we apologised for the sexual abuse, from both in the lay and the clergy in the past and other abuse and how, as a chruch, we've kept silent and not spoken."

The apology follows the University of Sydney's law school report released in 2010 that examined 191 reported cases of abuse in the Anglican church across Australia.

More recently, the Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse launched last November further highlighted inaction of the Anglican church.

Father Michael admitted people in the church had manipulated the system to violate the vulnerable - children, elderly and the disbaled - and the church had remained silent - until now.

"We made the point we are listening, we are here, there is no longer silence," he said.

"I described it as a step on the journey.

"There's a long way to go on the journey but it is a step forward.

"As a church, we've worked very hard for social justice.

"Sadly in our midst some have not been working with us."

Father Michael conceded the apology might have been too late for some, but the church had made significant changes in the last 15 years.

"Absolutely, there's people who think it's far too late and I see where they're coming from," he said.

"The Canberra and Goulburn diocese has been at the forefront of making changes and making churches safe."

He outlined volunteers within the lay ministry were required to undergo a police check and various others before completing a course on how to deal with abuse, adding they underwent a review each year.

Father Michael said he knew of people in his area who made written submissions to the Royal Comission.

"Some are deeply frustrated with the process and angered," he said.

"They thought it would be like the truth comission in South Africa."