Editing Cosmo Gordon Lang (section)

===Post-war years===

After the war, Lang's primary cause was that of church unity. In 1920, as chairman of the Reunion Committee at the Sixth [[Lambeth Conference]], he promoted an "Appeal to all Christian People", described by Hastings as "one of the rare historical documents that does not get forgotten with the years".<ref>Hastings, p. 97</ref> It was unanimously adopted as the Conference's Resolution 9, and ended: "We{{nbsp}}[...] ask that all should unite in a new and great endeavour to recover and to manifest to the world the unity of the Body of Christ for which He prayed."<ref>{{cite web|title= Resolution 9 (1920): Reunion of Christendom (Lambeth Conference 1920)|publisher=The Anglican Communion|url= http://www.anglicancommunion.org/resources/document-library/lambeth-conference/1920/resolution-9-reunion-of-christendom?author=Lambeth+Conference&year=1920 |access-date=6 December 2015}}</ref> Despite initial warmth from the English [[Nonconformist (Protestantism)#Today|Free Churches]], little could be achieved in terms of practical union between [[episcopal polity|episcopal]] and non-episcopal churches, and the initiative was allowed to lapse. Historically, the Appeal is considered the starting-point for the more successful [[ecumenical]] efforts of later generations.<ref name= Wilk3/><ref>Hastings, pp. 98–99</ref>

Lang was supportive of the [[Malines Conversations]] of 1921–26, though not directly involved.<ref>Lockhart, p. 280</ref> These were informal meetings between leading British Anglo-Catholics and reform-minded European Roman Catholics, exploring the possibility of reuniting the Anglican and Roman communions. Although the discussions had the blessing of [[Randall Davidson]], the Archbishop of Canterbury, many Anglican evangelicals were alarmed by them. Ultimately, the talks foundered on the entrenched opposition of the Catholic [[ultramontanes]].<ref>Hastings, pp. 208–11</ref> A by-product of these conversations may have been the awakening of opposition to the revision of the Anglican [[Book of Common Prayer|Prayer Book]]. The focus of this revision, which Lang supported, was to make concessions to Anglo-Catholic rituals and practices in the Anglican service. The new Prayer Book was overwhelmingly approved by the Church's main legislative body, the [[Church Assembly]], and by the House of Lords. Partly through the advocacy of the fervently evangelical [[Home Secretary]], [[Sir William Joynson-Hicks]], the revision was twice defeated in the House of Commons, in December 1927 by 238 votes to 205 and, in June 1928, by 266 to 220.<ref>Hefling, p. 242</ref><ref>McKibbin, p. 277</ref> Lang was deeply disappointed, writing that "the gusts of Protestant convictions, suspicions, fears [and] prejudices swept through the House, and ultimately prevailed."<ref>Lockhart, p. 308</ref>

On 26 April 1923, [[George V]] awarded Lang the [[Royal Victorian Chain]], an honour in the personal gift of the Sovereign<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32819|page=3135|date=1 May 1923}}</ref> After the marriage of Prince Albert, Duke of York (later [[George VI]]) in 1923, Lang formed a friendship with his Duchess (later [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother]]) which lasted for the rest of Lang's life. In 1926, he baptised Princess Elizabeth (later [[Elizabeth II]]) in the private chapel of [[Buckingham Palace]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://royalcentral.co.uk/uk/thequeen/the-christening-of-hm-the-queen-59320 |title= The Christening of HM The Queen|publisher= Royal Central|date= 20 April 2016|access-date = 21 September 2017 }}</ref> In January 1927, Lang took centre-stage in the elaborate ceremonies which marked the 1,300th anniversary of the founding of York Minster.<ref>Lockhart, pp. 296–97</ref>