The bishop replied: "To paraphrase the TV programme [House of Cards], you may say that, but I couldn't possibly comment." Inwood was speaking at an employment tribunal for Canon Jeremy Pemberton, who has made a claim for discrimination against the bishop.

In April 2014, Rev Pemberton became the first clergyman to marry his same-sex partner, in defiance of guidance issued by the C of E's bishops the month before.

Pemberton claims the bishop's decision to revoke his permission to officiate as a priest in June 2014, and the refusing of a post for him as hospital chaplain in Nottinghamshire, breached the Equalities Act. The church's case is that the issue of marriage between a man and a woman is enshrined in church doctrine.

The tribunal was hearing evidence about an email from the church's deputy director of communications discussing Pemberton's marriage, which was forwarded to Lambeth Palace.

The email said that in cases of same-sex marriage in the clergy, "in each individual case, it's a pastoral matter for that diocesan bishop" as to how the matter is dealt with. It also acknowledged there would be further such same-sex unions among clergy.

Sean Jones QC, for the claimant, asked the bishop: "So the central line being taken at Lambeth and Church House was very much, there's an option: it would be left to diocesan bishops to make their mind up?"

The bishop replied: "That's my understanding, yes."

Tribunal judge Peter Britton questioned the bishop on the language of the email, asking: "Would you agree, it is not indicative of any strong disapproval? Curiously so, maybe?"

The bishop replied: "I think my understanding at the time -- because I saw this email -- is that they were anxious the archbishop of Canterbury had other things on his priority list at this point, which is why it is couched in the language it is."

Britton asked if the email had to be seen in the context of the time, when the archbishop was tackling an agenda of "austerity, food banks, etc, and the place of the church in society".

"You also have a church which had a very significant practising gay community," he added. "You also have to juggle the fact of the wider Anglican community including some aspects of ethnic minority evangelical communities in UK.

"There would be an innate problem if this issue were seen to be given priority, or even strongly dealt with because you would have an immediate division you've got to deal with?"

"Now, in the middle, archbishop Welby has an agenda about the church's place in society in a society that sees itself to be increasingly unequal, in that context. So he decides, doesn't he, to leave it alone, politically?"

He put it to the bishop, that from his reading of the apparently "highest level" email, "no firm line is being suggested" on how to deal with Pemberton. Britton added: "This (email) is about a hot potato, and his name is Canon Pemberton.

"But the press office, doubtless in consultation with a high level, doesn't wish to make this a hot potato. So they're bypassing it down to you. I don't envy your position, but isn't that what they're doing?"

The bishop then gave his Francis Urquhart-inspired comment. Earlier, he said he believed he was acting lawfully when he dealt with the priest, telling the tribunal he took legal advice before making a decision.

Asked by Sean Jones QC, counsel for the respondent, whether the bishop thought Pemberton had committed a "sinful" act marrying partner Laurence Cunnington, he answered he was unsure. "The word sinful is such a difficult one to deal with really," the bishop said.

"Part of me wants to say yes, because it's against church doctrine on marriage, and part of me wants to say no because I believe canon Pemberton and his partner entered into it with a view to it being a wholesome thing."

He added: "I think they chose the wrong moment to do it, because the church has not given its mind to it. I think that as a priest, canon Pemberton ought to have regard to the teaching of the church and held off marriage at this particular point."

The Church of England has said it is in the process of discussing "a range of issues on sexuality, in regions across the country".

END