Canon Jeffrey John announced he would be withdrawing his acceptance of the post following the row within the Anglican Church about his appointment. He said he made the decision because of the ?damage? his consecration might cause to the ?unity of the Church?. But his colleague, the Dean of Southwark Colin Slee, said Dr John would never have stepped down under his own initiative. He said he had seen the priest after a six-hour meeting at Lambeth Palace when Dr John had told him he would withdraw his acceptance if asked to.

Mr Slee said Dr John?s departure was a ?devastating blow? for Anglicans who wanted a more progressive and inclusive Church. The Church and liberals must now organise to fight for a more inclusive Church. Earlier the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams called for reflection as he paid tribute to the ?dignity and forbearance? Dr John had shown ?often under the most intrusive and distasteful personal scrutiny?.

<B>Opinion divided</B>

But he acknowledged there would have been an ?obvious problem with the consecration of a bishop whose ministry would not be readily received by a significant proportion of Christians in England and elsewhere.? The row had been expected to dominate this week?s meeting of the General Synod, the Church?s Parliament. Dr Williams, who had not objected to Dr John?s appointment, made it clear homosexuals ?are full and welcome members of the Church?.

?This has been a time of open and painful confrontation, in which some of our bonds of mutual trust have been severely strained?. But he said some of the opposition to the appointment had been ?very unsavoury indeed? and showed the level of ?foolish and hurtful prejudice in our society is still uncomfortably high?.

A number of letters had displayed ?a shocking level of ignorance and hatred towards homosexual people? he said. Dr John had been due to be consecrated in October. He has been in a relationship with a man for 27 years, but says he is now celibate. Joel Edwards, of The Evangelical Alliance, welcomed the news saying this was definitely in the interests of the church. But gay rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell warned: ?Having scored this victory, anti-gay evangelists are looking to step up their campaign against gay people in the church.?