The course's core authors are the Bishops of Chelmsford, Sheffield and Stockport, (Stephen Cottrell, Steven Croft, Robert Atwell) and Dr Paula Gooder, writer and lecturer in New Testament studies. Speaking at Lambeth Palace this morning, the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, said that for most people becoming a Christian is 'like a journey'. Evangelism, he added, should therefore be focused on 'helping people make the journey'.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph the Archbishop urged MPs - who he said did not appear to be "slavering [to] unleash the dogs of war" - to check they were sure of what was happening in Syria. "The things which MPs will have to bear in mind in what is going to be a very, very difficult debate is firstly: are we sure about the facts on the ground?" he said.

The offended parishioner took a photograph of the 54-year-old American-born vicar driving in her car and sent it to the local newspaper along with an anonymous letter quoting the Bible's prohibition of swearing.

Yesterday, Miss Goodman, rector in the Fulbourn and the Wilbrahams parish in Cambridgeshire, was unrepentant about the sticker and said her detractors should 'get a life'.

Drewitt-Barlow said, "The only way forward for us now is to make a challenge in the courts against the church. It is a shame that we are forced to take Christians into a court to get them to recognize us."

"But we don't want to force anyone into marrying us - it is supposed to be the happiest day in my life and that would make me miserable and would spoil the whole thing," he said. "Aren't Christians meant to forgive and accept and love?"