The Church of England was plunged into turmoil tonight after legislation introducing the first women bishops failed to clear its final hurdle at the General Synod.

Senior figures in the Church of England have backed a Christian counsellor after she treated a gay man who said he wanted to be cured of his homosexuality.

Last-minute preparations were under way today for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton with the ceremony now just one night away.

BRITAIN’S Prince William and Kate Middleton made a rare pre-wedding appearance last night as they attended a rehearsal for their nuptials at Westminster Abbey.

A bishop has urged the British Government not to cut compassion from society amid swingeing public spending cuts.

BISHOP John Buckley has warned that a shortage of priests will soon mean that parishes in the Diocese of Cork and Ross will have to “share” churchmen.

The Pope’s visit to Britain will not be affected by the disclosure of a Foreign Office document mocking the Catholic Church, the Vatican said today.

Senior bishops today claimed Christians in Britain are being “treated with disrespect” while followers of other faiths are dealt with more sensitively.

The Archbishop of Canterbury in England is to evaluate a statement in which episcopal leaders in the US agree to “exercise restraint” in approving another gay bishop and not to authorise prayers to bless same-sex couples.

A HOST of famous faces gathered at Manchester Cathedral to celebrate the life of footballing legend George Best yesterday.

HOMOSEXUAL, bisexual and transsexual people should be treated with "compassion" and as equal Christians, according to a new Church of England guide published yesterday.

A Church of England report on human sexuality was being published today in the wake of the row over gay clergy in the Anglican Communion.

THE Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, called for a "pause for thought" yesterday after gay priest Canon Jeffrey John, announced he was withdrawing his acceptance of the post of the Bishop of Reading.

A UK clergyman who died in a car fire in an apparent suicide was remembered with warmth and humour at his funeral today.

A US court hearing to decide whether to stay the execution of a Briton who has spent 16 years on death row was today postponed until next week.