The centenary conference to celebrate the Malines Conversations, held in Mechelen from 18 to 21 September, is going full-swing. The Chaplain-President, Secretary-General and Second Secretary have joined a large group of Catholic and Anglican theologians to discuss and mark the ground-breaking talks on doctrine between Cardinal Mercier and Viscount Halifax from 1921 to 1926. The Catholic welcome, led by Mgr Terlinden and Cardinal De Kesel, has been flawless, with generous hospitality offered in Mechelen Palace. The conference has been fascinating, with high-level contributions from friends from KU Leuven (Prof Jan De Volder) and UCLouvain (Prof Arnaud Join-Lambert) and from afar (Archbishop Ian Ernest, Prof Paul Murray, Canon Jamie Hawkey and others). Bishop Robert and Bishop Andrew have been constant supportive presences. The choir of Christ's College Cambridge sang a wonderful concert of Anglican church music in Mechelen Cathedral on the evening of 19 September, to huge applause. We are overjoyed that Anglican-Catholic relations can still take on this warmth, quality and energy.
