The Archbishop of Canterbury yesterday consecrated two bishops, including one who does not accept the ordination of women.Jonathan Goodall will be the new "flying" Bishop of Ebbsfleet, which ministers to those who cannot accept women priests, while Martyn Snow is the new Bishop of Tewkesbury.
The Archbishop of Canterbury's predecessor, Lord Williams of Oystermouth, preached during the service stressing the importance of unity.
"Just like the holiness, apostolic and catholic quality of the Church, so the unity of the Church is first an attribute of Christ, and a gift of Christ, before it's anything to do with the way we run our business," he said.
Bishop Goodall worked for Lord Williams and his predecessor as ecumenical secretary at Lambeth Palace.
The Catholic Church was represented by the Archbishops of Cardiff and Birmingham and the papal nuncio, Archbishop Antonio Mennini, said the Church had a "good friendship" with Bishop Goodall.