Attempts were led by Baroness O’Cathain to extend the provision of the Bill to include siblings living together and carers, who she said also suffered from the injustice that the Bill sought to put right. But her amendments failed.

Fr. Earle Fox celebrated the mass and preached a sermon on the role of the father in the family and society in the late 19th century Gothic Revival chapel.

The failure of fathers to play the role envisioned for them by God -- as revealed in the Judeo-Christian tradition -- has caused great harm to the family and society, Fr. Fox told the congregation.

Traditionalist bishops - many from Africa - have travelled to America to minister to parishes that reject the ordination of homosexual clergy.

Canadian solution

These unofficial 'flying bishops' have carried out duties such as ordaining clergy and confirming members of the Church, which would normally have been the preserve of the resident bishop.

Angered by the perceived snub to the Anglican Churches of Africa, a motion was put forward at the conference that sought to “censure” Dr Williams for his absence. Following a prolonged debate on October 28, the chairman of the day’s session, Bishop Johanes Seoka of Pretoria, urged the bishops not to act, arguing a rebuke would serve no positive purpose. Two senior bishops then rose to speak asserting that a rebuke would be ill-mannered and was not the African way of resolving conflict.