Abstract: A method of and apparatus for bending and tempering a sheet of glass heated to a formable state provides an improved rigid mold and pressing member for pressing the heated sheet against the rigid mold which cools and bends the sheet. The pressing member includes a conformable pressing element which permits a manifold to be positioned between the rigid mold and the pressing member to direct a gas to cool the heated sheet of glass during bending. The conformable pressing element is pressurized into a convex shape for initially pressing on a portion of the heated sheet and for rolling the heated sheet onto the rigid mold. The rigid mold and the conformable pressing element may each include a cover to increase the heat transfer from the heated sheet to the bending and tempering apparatus. Furthermore, the covers may have increased thermal conductivity in their peripheral regions for increased cooling of the edge of the sheet of glass.