Bishop Mark make a splash at the Lambeth Concerence

The 2008 Lambeth Concerence is now well underway in and around the campus of the University of Kent in the Cathedral City of Canterbury with over 600 bishops present from throughout the Anglican Communion.

Bishop Mark arrives at Canterbury Cathedral

Last Sunday, 20th July, after three days of quiet reflection during their retreat, the bishops joined together for the Opening Eucharist of the Lambeth Conference in Canterbury Cathedral.

Bishop Mark, as you can see, attracted the attention of the hoards of press from around the world when he arrived, dressed in his kilt!  (His kilt is the Ancient Clergy tartan.)

After the service, the bishops processed out of the Cathedral and headed back to the University of Kent to continue the business of the conference, which continues for the next two weeks with meetings and discussions each day, with only a couple of exceptions.

On Thursday the bishops travel to London where they will take part in a Walk of Witness from Whitehall to Lambeth Palace (the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury).  In the afternoon they will attend a Royal Garden Party in Buckingham Palace, hosted by the Queen.

Next Sunday they almost have a day off with the option of either attending services in Canterbury Cathedral or being taken to parishes in and around Canterbury, before attending a Civic Reception in St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury.

The Big Top - home of the Lambeth Conference

During the two weeks of the Lambeth Concerence most of the services and the large plenary sessions are being held in the Big Top, a giant blue tent - of the kind used by the circus! - in the grounds of the campus of the University of Kent.

Throught the Lambeth Concerence there is also full programme for bishop's spouses ... from a concert by a Korean Choir, bible study groups to a session called "Charged to be God's peacemakers".  There is also the trip to Lambeth Palace and the Royal Garden Party in Buckingham Palace, and unlike the bishops, the sposes have choice of days out ... like a four mile walk to the the Isle of Thanet, so there will be plenty for Jane to do while Bishop Mark endures the heat of the Big Top with his fellow bishops!