The College of Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church has been joined by 12 Anglican bishops from the Church in Wales and Church of Ireland at this year’s Celtic Bishops’ Conference, held in Inverness for the first time (27 to 29 January).

The agenda for the three-day event at the Kingsmill Hotel includes preparations for the Lambeth Conference 2020 later this year, which extends an invitation to all bishops from across the worldwide Anglican Communion of more than 165 countries to help seek God’s direction for the future of the Anglican Church.

As part of the programme of events, the bishops today [Tuesday] visited Deputy Provost Elizabeth McAllister as her guests for afternoon tea at Inverness Town House.

Deputy Provost Elizabeth McAllister said: “I am delighted and honoured to welcome the Celtic Bishops to the Inverness Town House and to recognise the importance of the Celtic Bishops’ Conference being held in the City of Inverness. The Highlands prides itself in welcoming people of all Faiths and beliefs and on behalf of the councillors and citizens of Inverness hope that our working relationship with the Interfaith Community remains strong, particularly at a time when people are experiencing particular hardship for a variety of reasons.”

The Most Rev Dr Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, said: “We are delighted to welcome visiting bishops from the Church in Wales and Church of Ireland, to continue our regular dialogue in areas of shared interest. We are also grateful to the Deputy Provost of Inverness for marking the occasion, and to the city’s people for their warm welcome this week.”

The bishops completed a walking pilgrimage through the city following their visit to the Town House, before Eucharist at St Michael and All Angels. On Wednesday they will attend a farewell dinner at which the guest speaker will be The Reverend Canon Dr Joseph Morrow, Lord Lyon King of Arms, before the Irish and Welsh bishops return home on Thursday morning.

The Celtic Bishops’ Conference is held every two to three years, with the venue rotated among the nations. It was last held in Scotland in 2011, at Pitlochry.