Speaking to members of the Anglican Communion in Accra, Ghana, where he is still visiting, he said that he was twice summoned to Parliament over the issue as he blamed rising secularism for triggering the historic debate at General Synod, the Church's legislative body, on the new blessings.

He also warned that the church should not be "dictated to", "blackmailed" or "bribed" over the issue.

The archbishop's comments came after the Church of England's legislative assembly, General Synod, passed a motion to allow the blessing of same-sex couples in civil partnerships earlier this month.

In his presidential address to the 18th plenary of the ACC, Mr Welby said that 'rules about sexuality in the Church of England' have been tabled for discussion as a 'result' of growing atheism in the UK.

The Church of England affirms, according to our Lord's teaching, that marriage is in its nature a union permanent and lifelong, for better for worse, till death them do part, of one man with one woman, to the exclusion of all others on either side, for the procreation and nurture of children, for the hallowing and right direction of the natural instincts and affections, and for the mutual society, help and comfort which the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity.

Any potential alterations, which would mark a departure from traditional Jewish and Christian teachings dating back millennia, would have to be approved by synod, the church's decision-making body.

Rev Dr Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield and vice-chair of the liturgical commission responsible for the matter, said the church had been "exploring the use of gendered language in relation to God for several years".