It also set out principles concerning lay people entering partnerships, and recommended that they should not be asked about their relationships before being admitted to baptism, confirmation, or communion.

The Act will grant legal recognition to same-sex couples for the first time, giving them legal rights similar to those of married couples. These include rights to property and pensions, and access to a partner's hospital records.

The Ugandan-born Dr Sentamu, 56, who was formerly Bishop of Birmingham, was confirmed in his appointment as Archbishop of York, the second most senior post in the hierarchy of the Church of England, in a ceremony laden with medieval formularies and legal jargon before his fellow bishops at the City of London church of St Mary-Le-Bow last night.

The Primate of Brazil, Archbishop Orlando Santos de Oliveira, has sought to remove and depose Bishop Cavalcanti over the protest of diocesan clergy and laity in a number of extra-canonical and highly questionable acts; in addition, Archbishop Oliveira has excommunicated 40 clergy in the Diocese of Recife.

Bishop Cavalcanti has been a bold defender of the faith once delivered and has stood firm against the tide of secular revisionism threatening the Anglican Communion.

Bishop Howard spoke for 30 minutes, assuring members that St. John's would "move forward with hope, optimism and confidence." He said he was already working to find an interim pastor, who might serve for as long as a year before a permanent rector was chosen.

"This is simply one of the historic moments this church has witnessed," Howard said. "As the days go on, I do not think it will be the historic moment of this church."