The diocese sued St. James and two other breakaway parishes for the property after they severed ties and placed themselves under the jurisdiction of a conservative Anglican bishop in Uganda.

The Episcopal Church is the U.S. member of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

On a broader scale, it's the latest standoff between a U.S. body and its worldwide brethren. "We're leaving, moving on with our business of proclaiming the Gospels and caring for the community," said the Rev. Robert Giffin, the Anglican priest who served the group as a satellite of the Episcopal Diocese of Springfield (Ill.). "There was a sincere desire to remain in community with the Anglican Communion, but not (the Episcopal Church (USA))."

He was represented by a stand-in as showers of rose petals were thrown, prayers were read in Latin and Sanskrit and a colourful Japanese tapestry was unveiled.

The spirit of enlightenment had been seriously disturbed after senior Buddhists denounced the presence at the event of His Holiness Thaye Dorje. The 22-year-old's claim to be the 17th Karmapa, one of the most revered figures in Buddhism, is fiercely disputed.

Ed, the information I was given painted a totally different picture from the ENS report, and I deeply regret that I relied on this second-hand information, and did not check with you personally.

It is no excuse, but we have had major family distractions. My mother had a massive stroke on July 23, and subsequently died on July 28; and then my one year old granddaughter has had life-threatening illness this past week - on opposite sides of the continent.