Colenso's biblical criticism and his high-minded views about the treatment of African natives created a frenzy of alarm and opposition from the High Church party in South Africa and in England. As controversy raged in England, the South African bishops headed by Bishop Robert Gray pronounced Colenso's deposition in December 1863. Colenso, who had refused to appear before this tribunal otherwise than by sending a proxy protest (delivered by his friend Wilhelm Bleek), appealed to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. The Privy Council eventually decided that the Bishop of Cape Town had no coercive jurisdiction and no authority to interfere with the Bishop of Natal. In view of this finding of ultra vires there was no opinion given upon the allegations of heresy made against Colenso. The first Lambeth Conference was convened in 1867 to address concerns raised by the Privy Council's decision in favour of Colenso.
colenso's biblical criticism and his high-minded views about the treatment of african natives created a frenzy of alarm and opposition from the high church party in south africa and in england as controversy raged in england the south african bishops headed by bishop robert gray pronounced colenso's deposition in december 1863 colenso who had refused to appear before this tribunal otherwise than by sending a proxy protest (delivered by his friend wilhelm bleek) appealed to the judicial committee of the privy council in london the privy council eventually decided that the bishop of cape town had no coercive jurisdiction and no authority to interfere with the bishop of natal in view of this finding of ultra vires there was no opinion given upon the allegations of heresy made against colenso the first lambeth conference was convened in 1867 to address concerns raised by the privy council's decision in favour of colenso