 In October 1888 Lang was elected to an All Souls Fellowship and began to divide his time between London and Oxford . Some of his Oxford friends were training for ordination and Lang was often drawn into their discussions . Eventually the question entered Lang 's mind : " Why shouldn 't you be ordained ? " The thought persisted , and one Sunday evening in the spring of 1889 , after a visit to the theological college at Cuddesdon , Lang attended evening service at the Cuddesdon parish church . By his own account , during the sermon he was gripped by " a masterful inward voice " which told him " You are wanted . You are called . You must obey . " He immediately severed his connection with the Bar , renounced his political ambitions and applied for a place at Cuddesdon College . With the help of an All Souls contact , the essential step of his confirmation into the Church of England was supervised by the Bishop of Lincoln . Lang 's decision to become an Anglican and seek ordination disappointed his Presbyterian father , who nevertheless wrote to his son : " What you think , prayerfully and solemnly , you ought to do – you must do – we will accept . " 
