clergy

While the Church has voted to move to introduce prayers for same-sex couples, clergy will also be allowed not to lead such blessings if they feel they do not want to.

Among them, there will be relief that Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has stepped aside as someone who had lost credibility on the issue which would make it difficult to sanction other clergy for not doing enough.

"If there are senior clergy who have broken the law then they need to be called to account," he added.

A member of the clergy warned Mr Welby about Smyth in the 1980s, but the archbishop told the review this had been "vague" and "there was no indication given of the abuses which later came to light".

On Monday the Bishop of Newcastle, Helen Ann Harlety, became the most senior member of the clergy to call for the Archbishop to stand down.