The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has expressed his sadness and disquiet at the move by the diocese of New Westminster in the Anglican Church of Canada to authorise services of blessings for same-sex unions in some parishes.

"As the recent Primates' meeting made clear, the public liturgy of the Church expresses the mind of the Church on doctrinal matters and there is nothing approaching a consensus in support of same-sex unions.

"In taking this action and ignoring the considerable reservations of the Church, repeatedly expressed and most recently by the Primates, the diocese has gone significantly further than the teaching of the Church or pastoral concern can justify and I very much regret the inevitable tension and division that will result from this development."