FACTBOX-What is the Lambeth Conference?

(Reuters) - The Lambeth Conference, a 10-yearly Anglican summit hosted by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, launched its working agenda on Monday.

Here are some details:

WHAT IS IT?

* The Lambeth Conference is a gathering of the archbishops and bishops of the Anglican Communion, meeting every 10 years under the presidency of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

* The Anglican Communion is a family of churches around the world. Most bishops within the communion look after a diocese, or a region of parishes.

* The first Lambeth Conference was held in 1867 at Lambeth Palace, the Archbishop of Canterbury's residence in London. There have been 13 conferences to date.

* Until 1978 the conferences were for bishops only, but in 1988 the full Anglican Consultative Council membership and representative bishops of the Churches in Communion (the Churches of Bangladesh, North and South India and Pakistan) joined in the discussions.

-- Bishops of the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht, the union of seven provinces of the northern Netherlands, also took part.

* Also invited are bishops from other churches "in communion" with the Anglican Communion, bishops from united churches and a number of ecumenical guests.