But some traditionalist evangelicals called for the vote not only to be declared null but for him to be sacked as a clergyman because of his decision to marry his partner despite a Church-imposed bar on clerics entering same-sex marriages.

Peter Ball, 83, was sentenced to 32 months for misconduct in public office and 15 months for indecent assaults, to run concurrently.

The former Bishop of Lewes and Bishop of Gloucester used "religion as a cloak" to carry out the abuse between the 1970s and 1990s, the court heard.

The Church of England said there were "no excuses".

Ball was described by the judge at the Old Bailey, Mr Justice Wilkie, as a man who did "so much good and so much harm".

Dr Paul Weston from Ridley Hall preached on the readings for St Matthew's Day. He spoke humorously of his experience at a Speed Awareness Course (on which he had been trying to enrol for years). He noted that for many on such a course sin was to be 'caught out'. The apostle's words that "God has shone in our hearts" shows that the real question is whether our life matches that of Jesus Christ. "Jesus came not to call the righteous, but the serious", he said.

The bishops once again reject any so-called "theology of taint" (whereby a bishop who ordains women as bishops or priests thereby invalidates his own orders and the orders of those whom he subsequently ordains). They explain and endorse the aspiration of ordinands to be ordained by a bishop with whom they are in full communion (because they are able to receive the ministry of all whom that bishop ordains).