And so the question is: “Where have you been?” Actually, that is an appallingly self-centred question, based on the assumption that you have been reading my Lambeth Conference diary and may have noticed a gap in the sequence. Not only is it self-centred, it’s also self-indulgent; please forgive me. However, just in case you might have been expecting something from me, let me explain.…

One of the diary days was lost by my technological incompetence. I wrote the piece, sent it, lost it. It’s as simple as that. I’ve looked in the wardrobe, under the bed, in the bin (it’s a small-but-perfectly-formed room I live in, on the campus), but I can not find it anywhere. Sorry. It’s a bit like the fisherman’s one-that-got-away. Maybe it was the best piece I have ever written. Now, no-one will be able to judge…

The loss of the other diary days are explained by the need I had to return to the diocese for two major events. The first, on Friday of last week, was a courteous and fascinating seminar run by a national charity, the Rural Housing Trust. It was held at Pirton Village Hall, near Hitchin. The charity enables small pieces of land to be purchased in villages, in order to build houses for village people who can not afford the market-rate. Without this housing they would have to leave the village, a place where, perhaps, their family has lived for generations. Some of the properties are offered on a shared-equity basis, others are for rent. It’s a quiet, brave and very effective attempt to meet a genuine human need. So far, over 3,000 homes have been provided.

I had been asked to be the chairman of the day-long seminar and, as one of the guest-speakers was HRH the Princess Royal, it was an invitation which I felt that I ought to accept. I am very glad I did so. Many parish councillors from Herts and Beds were there and contributed greatly to the value of the day. The Village Hall Committee laid on a superb lunch, ideas were shared, new visions formed. It was a classic example of William Blake’s phrase: “He who would do good, must do it in minute particulars.” So, a lively, stimulating conference full of common-sense, the kind of conference that makes a difference and has the potential to contribute greatly to the flourishing of rural life.

And what was the other major event which brought me back to St Albans? The answer is simple. It was our fortieth wedding anniversary and as Jan and I had spent our thirtieth wedding anniversary at the 1998 Lambeth Conference, it seemed entirely good and justifiable to spend our fortieth anniversary at home, with our children and grand-children. It was, as you might imagine, one of those days that was vibrant with happiness; it really was absolutely wonderful.

Meanwhile, the Lambeth Conference went quietly on: the bible study groups studied, the Indaba groups conversed, and the worship was, no doubt, worship-full. And on the fringes, all kind of events took place. Before I left to return to the diocese, I went to an evening of singing provided by the superb Mother’s Union choir of South Korea. Their voices and their music had, deep inside them, a yearning for peace and reconciliation in their divided land. Not surprisingly, Father Luke Lee, a retired Korean priest from our diocese was at the concert. He has very quietly and assiduously been working for the same objectives for many years.. A couple of days later I had lunch with the Chief Rabbis of Jerusalem and, just in case I had not quite grasped the rich diversity supplied by this Conference, I found myself, only a few moments ago, having a cup of tea with two Anglican bishops from Brazil. It is that kind of serendipitous meeting which characterises the very best of this Conference. It does not make any waves but out of such meetings new understandings grow. William Blake, in spite of his discomfort with the Church of England, would surely approve…