How did the first Lambeth Conference in 1867 begin?

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Anglicanism The stately Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, England. The cathedral is the seat of the archbishop of Canterbury, the mother church of the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion, and part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The first Lambeth Conference in 1867 was initiated following suggestions from the American and Canadian Anglican churches in 1851 and 1866, respectively.1

At the start of the gathering, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Charles Thomas Longley, took steps to define the scope of the meeting. He explicitly limited the deliberations to "expedient" resolutions concerning "matters of practical interest" that could serve as "safe guides to future action." Furthermore, he declared that "questions of doctrine" were not to be discussed at the conference.1

Due to initial skepticism regarding the necessity and status of such an international gathering, attendance was limited; only 76 of the 144 invited Anglican bishops participated. The inaugural conference was held at Lambeth Palace and lasted for only four days.1