"At a time of increasing fear and division in the world, it is ever more important that people of faith, Christians and Muslims, come together to work towards the common good for the betterment of all.

"As Anglicanism has its roots in the United Kingdom, and Shi'ism in the Islamic Republic of Iran and the former Persian Empire, I recognise that there is great potential for our faith to act as a bridge between our faith communities and the countries in which they are based."

Canon Jeremy Davies has been told he can no longer officiate at services because he married his long-term partner opera singer, Simon McEnery last year

Simon McEnery expressed outrage on Facebook after his husband Canon Jeremy Davies was no longer allowed to officiate at Church of England services because he had married a fellow man

The Archdeacon of Buckingham, the Venerable Karen Gorham, 51, was brought up in a naturist family, though she gave up going nude on beaches in her teenage years.

The unmarried Archdeacon, 51 -- who was named by Downing Street on Thursday as the next Bishop of Sherborne -- has even written a controversial treatise defending the practise of disrobing in public.

It is now being headed by New Zealand Judge, Justice Lowell Goddard. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, had asked Justice Goddard to investigate the Church of England first, saying that he would order his own inquiry if there was a lengthy delay.