The Archbishop of Canterbury has publicly rebuked hundreds of senior Anglicans in an row in which he accused the Church of England’s national assembly of failing to “trust” its bishops.

Dr Rowan Williams said the Church’s General Synod had “embarrassed” itself by an alleged whispering campaign against the appointment of the Bishop of Dover to a senior internal position.

It represents the latest clash between the Archbishop, the spiritual head of the 80 million-strong worldwide Anglican communion, and Synod members. Last year, Dr Williams suffered a major defeat over plans to allow women to be ordained as bishops.

The latest row centred on the appointment of a new chair of the Church’s business committee, who will help set the agendas for future assembly meetings, which usually take place twice a year.

Church authorities had proposed that the Bishop of Dover, the Rt Rev Trevor Willmott, should be appointed to the post.

But the Bishop of Willesden, the Rt Rev Pete Broadbent, who was suspended last year after criticising the Royal Wedding on Facebook, argued that a bishop should not hold the a post.

Writing on his blog, Bishop Broadbent said: “The chair of the Business Committee has to be independent and be seen to be independent.

“They have to defend the rights of the back bench members. They have to say no to Church House, the House of Bishops, the Archbishops’ Council and to retain control of what comes on the Synod agenda…”

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