The Bishop of Dover had to be comforted by other church leaders when he broke down in tears at the end of an emotional debate at the General Synod in York on Monday.

The Rt Rev Stephen Venner was seen to be in distress at the end of a six-hour debate in which the Church of England voted to press ahead with the introduction of women bishops.

He said he was ashamed of the Church for ignoring the deeply felt wishes of traditionalists who are opposed to the move.

Afterwards, Bishop Venner, who is in favour of the ordination of women bishops, was reported as saying: “For the first time in my life I am ashamed.

“We have talked for hours about wanting to give an honourable place for those who want to disagree and we have turned down almost every realistic opportunity for those who are opposed to flourish.”

Bishop Venner, who acts as diocesan chief in Kent on behalf of Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, said speakers had called the Church of England a broad and diverse Church.

But he asked: “Where is the Church of England about which we have spoken today?

“Is this the Church of England at its best? I have to say I doubt it.

“Is it the Church of England to which I thought I belonged? I have to say, with huge sadness, I doubt it.”

The dramatic climax to the General Synod came after safeguards that would have created superbishops had been rejected. Had that plan been accepted, it would have meant that dissidents would not have had to deal with female bishops.

But as it stands, the Church of England has rubber-stamped the principle of women bishops, sweeping aside the dissidents.

The traditionalists believe, theologically, that women cannot be recognised as priests. The furore in York on Monday can only add tension and drama to the Lambeth Conference to be held in Canterbury from July 16-August 3.

The battle the Church of England is facing over homosexual priests and bishops is due to intensify when more than 600 Anglican bishops from all over the world gather at Kent University.

Many bishops have announced they will boycott the conference, a serious blow to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s hopes of healing the rift over sexuality.