Anglican Communion News Service

How does one describe the Lambeth Conference Market Place? The 60 stalls are a mixture of commercial and charitable organisations. Need some Holy Socks; a new Mitre; more theology books; or art work? Then the Market place is the definitely the place for you.

Visitors are a mixture of Bishops, their spouses, volunteers, staff and the general public. Some come to look; some to admire; some to buy and some to learn.

It's a once in ten year opportunity for organisations working across the world to speak to the key influencers face to face. So, the Mothers' Union; USPG Anglicans in World Mission; CMS; Episcopal Development and Relief; and Christian Aid and others are there.

It's also a mecca for pressure and special interest groups, hoping to influence Bishops and their spouses - Affiring catholicism; the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement; WATCH [Women and the Church]; the Modern Church People's Union amongst others are there too.

The visual highlight is undoubtedly the ecclesiasticaloutfitters. The georgous vestments, beautifully designed and produced. Bishops admire and look. But many can only look. The cost of a mitre or a clerical shirt is beyond many conference participants. There is a worrying divide, between those Bishops who can afford new vestments, and those whose wives look for patterns to make mitres themselves.

The market place has something for everyone. As one Bishop put it "I don't know how I'm going to get all my gifts home!"

If you are visiting the Lambeth Conference, come and see the Market Place. It shows the breadth of the Anglican Communion like nothing else.