Page "Anglican Communion" Paragraph 80

A crucial step in the development of the modern communion was the idea of the Lambeth Conferences ( discussed above ).

These conferences demonstrated that the bishops of disparate churches could manifest the unity of the church in their episcopal collegiality despite the absence of universal legal ties.

Some bishops were initially reluctant to attend, fearing that the meeting would declare itself a council with power to legislate for the church ; but it agreed to pass only advisory resolutions.

These Lambeth Conferences have been held roughly every 10 years since 1878 ( the second such conference ) and remain the most visible coming-together of the whole Communion.