At the 1988 Lambeth Conference there was controversy over the admission of women priests. This year homosexuality threatens to cause dispute.

More than 800 bishops from 164 countries are attending

In a long and careful speech the Archbishop, Dr George Carey, welcomed the still-controversial presence of 11 women bishops. He also spoke of his disappointment at the implication of church members in the massacres in Rwanda, but did not mention homosexuality.

He warned the bishops against fundamentalism, saying: "The Anglican middle way has encouraged the growth of tolerance, freedom and generosity of spirit.

"We are not a coercive institution but depend on friendly persuasion. Within our decision making, we know most of the time how to argue and fight fairly."

Dr Carey did say, however, that there are limits to what would be tolerated.

"There are boundaries beyond which we cannot stray if we are to be true to all we have received and to ourselves as Anglicans today."

Gay activists demonstrated outside the hall

Dr Carey told the BBC's Religious Affairs reporter, Jane Little, that he did not believe the issue of homosexuality would split the conference.

He said it was not viewed as a significant issue during discussions beforehand.

At a church service on Sunday he reiterated the church's position that sexual activity should occur only in marriage.

"The church will accept celibate homosexuals within its ranks but will not permit the ordination of sexually active gays and lesbians," he said.

Asian and African bishops, however, say they intend to bring the North American Church to account for ordaining openly gay priests and, in some instances, blessing same-sex unions.

Some conservative bishops also intend to refuse to attend study groups with women bishops.

Polygamy compromise

Compromise on controversial issues has been reached before.

In 1988, as well as bringing in women priests, the conference successfully dealt with polygamy, an important issue for the West African church.

It decided that a polygamous marriage was not an obstacle to membership of the church, as long as a man did not marry again after baptism.

This is the biggest conference yet - so big that it has had to be moved to Canterbury, the birthplace of British Christianity.

There were 76 bishops at the first Lambeth Conference in 1867. Now all of the bishops in the church have been invited to attend and more than 800 have done so, representing 70 million Anglicans in 164 countries.

While it will debate many issues, it does not have the power to impose legislation on the church.