"No-one is more surprised than me about this, but I am comforted to know that it didn't take God by surprise," Mr Dibden said. "I'm also comforted by the fact that God promises to be with all of us until the end of the age (Matt 28:20) and so I can rely on Him and know that with His help I will be able to fulfil this most important role."

The vestry at St. John's Episcopal Church in Tallahassee, Florida, voted last month to offer marriage rites to same-sex couples.

After an extended process of discernment, a committee of nine church members issued a report in December in which most of the group recommended offering the rites, and the vestry decided in late January to accept that recommendation.

This huge bill is more than the annual sum spent running the C of E by its financial arm, the Church Commissioners.

It could lead to major spending cuts and force the sale of some of the Church's £8billion-worth of historic assets.

In papers for a meeting today of the C of E ruling body, the General Synod, the Rt Rev Peter Hancock, Bishop of Bath and Wells, says the Church is co-operating with the national Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

As part of the programme of events, the bishops today [Tuesday] visited Deputy Provost Elizabeth McAllister as her guests for afternoon tea at Inverness Town House.