When, however, a Bishop does not do that, our canons stipulate that he has abandoned the Church of Uganda. I have, therefore, written to Christopher Ssenyonjo informing him that I, along with the Provincial Chancellor, the Honourable Ezekiel Muhanguzi, have presumed that he has abandoned the Church of Uganda.

"I do think it would be fair to say that a bishop in a same-sex relationship would create definite difficulty in the life of the Communion," Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold said in an interview. However, he noted church governance allows each diocese to choose its leader, and he said it would be inappropriate for him to interfere.

"In a polarised and deeply divided church it's particularly important, I think, not to be someone pursuing an agenda that isn't the agenda of the whole," said Williams. "I suppose what I'm saying is if the church moves on this, it must be because the church moves, not because, rather like getting rid of Clause 4, a figure of leadership says, 'Right -- this is where we go.'"

"I think creationism is ... a kind of category mistake, as if the Bible were a theory like other theories ... if creationism is presented as a stark alternative theory alongside other theories I think there has just been a jarring of categories," Dr Rowan Williams told The Guardian newspaper.

"My worry is creationism can end up reducing the doctrine of creation rather than enhancing it," the most senior clergyman in the Church of England added.