 Lang was supportive of the Malines Conversations of 1921 – 26 , though not directly involved . 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 . A by @-@ product of these conversations may have been the awakening of opposition to the revision of the Anglican 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 . However , 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 – 220 . Lang was deeply disappointed , writing that " the gusts of Protestant convictions , suspicions , fears [ and ] prejudices swept through the House , and ultimately prevailed . " 
