Child abuse in the Church is not only seriously distressing, it is eternally consequential: "If anyone causes one of these little ones -- those who believe in me -- to stumble," said Jesus, "it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."

But he warned that it would be a "disaster" if the UK's negotiators went into bat against the "united determination of the EU" without having the "confidence" that they have the full backing of Britain.

As a result he has backed calls for a cross-party approach to Brexit talks.

At a press conference with Dame Moira launching the independent report today, Peter Hancock, the Bishop of Bath and Wells and the lead bishop on safeguarding in the Church, confirmed that Archbishop Welby had 'written directly' to Lord Carey asking him 'carefully' to consider his position.

Bishop Hancock said that 'this is now a matter for Lord Carey and the Bishop of Oxford' who have been having conversations on the telephone and are set to meet in the next two days.

Given 'the failure to teach sound doctrine and the refusal to refute, publicly, false teaching and practice, each congregation was asked to consider the current leadership in light of the biblical requirement for bishops', the two vicars said.

The two congregations also declared 'no confidence' in their own Bishop of Chelmsford, Stephen Cottrell, who has called for official thanksgiving services for gay couples.