Canterbury

The only time that all members of the Lambeth Conference can be seen in-one-place-at-the-one-time, happens today (Wednesday 22 July) when the official conference photograph is taken.

Bishops, lay Anglicans and observers from other churches will assemble for the group photograph at 4.30pm on the lawn behind Eliot and Rutherford Colleges.

The bishops' photograph from the last Lambeth conference in 1988 is still the most-requested photograph at the Anglican Communion Office in London. Ten years later requests for prints are still being received.

Conference Communications Director Jim Rosenthal admits organising more than 730 bishops onto scaffolding for the photograph is a major logistical effort: "The photo has a life of it own."

"It's certainly worth the effort", Rosenthal said. "The Bishops' photograph is the tangible proof that we are in the words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu the 'Rainbow People of God."

There are a number of 'firsts' with this event, Rosenthal said.

"It's the largest ever Lambeth conference so the photograph will include more people than even before", he said.

"There will be women bishops, and for the first time ecumenical observers will also line-up to be in the picture"

"The lay members of the conference, the members of the Anglican Consultative Council will also be in the photograph"