The factions, which are as divided over the nature and purpose of the Church as over homosexuality, are determined to defend their positions and a formal separation could occur within months.

The Telegraph has learned that the conservatives are refusing to take communion with the liberals and plan to boycott the daily services at the meeting in a potent symbol of their divisions.

But I still think that it is important that we must not give way to the temptation to say 'truth would be clear if only some people would go away'. And, once, again, on both sides of the debate, that is what I hearing. 'truth would be clear if only those Neanderthal bigots would go away'... 'truth would be clear if only those servile followers of contemporary culture would go away'. I'm not sure that's true; in fact I'm pretty sure it isn't.

Q. You retired earlier than required. ...Tell me why.

A. It was very pragmatic. I'd done 11, nearly 12 years. It's a very demanding job. (I) thought I needed to give more time to wife and family....There was another fundamental reason as well....My successor had to have time to work towards building up for the next Lambeth Conference.

The Bishop of Rochester, the Right Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, who chaired the working party that examined the theology of women bishops, said that the evidence from the Bible and the Church Fathers indicated clearly that women exercised leadership in the early Church.

"No one reading the history of the Church can fail to be impressed with the apostolate exercised by faithful women down the centuries," he said.