In 1851, the Bishops of Quebec, Toronto, Newfoundland, Fredericton and Montreal were considered Bishops of the North American Colonies in the Province of Canterbury.  They were granted permission to meet together to discuss the difficulties of being Bishops in the colonies.  At this conference they set the stage for establishing synodical government in Canada and the formation of the General Synod of the Church of England in Canada (later Anglican Church of Canada).

Fonds consists of Minutes of a Conference of the Bishops of Quebec, Toronto, Newfoundland, Fredericton and Montreal holden at Quebec, from Sept. 24th to Oct. 1st, 1851.  Minutes taken in George Jehoshaphat Mountain’s handwriting.

The minutes of the conference include the following order of subjects: General Declaration, Convocation, Church-membership, Canons, Articles and Formularies, Division of Services, Psalms and Hymns, Offertory, Holy Communion, Marriages, Registers, Inter-communion with other reformed churches, Education, Deacons, Maintenance of the Clergy, Conclusion.

GSA has several copies of these minutes in a various collections.

Published with the title, Minutes of a Conference of the Bishops of Quebec, Toronto, Newfoundland, Fredericton, and Montreal, holden at Quebec, from Sept. 24th to Oct. 1st, 1851. Montreal : Printed by John Lovell, St. Nicholas Street, 1852.