THE Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rt Rev Rowan Williams, is barred from conducting communion at nearby Harbledown Church because of his support for women priests.

An article in last weekend’s Sunday Times highlighted the church as one of those in the Archbishop’s own dicocese which has distanced itself from bishops who have ordained women priests.

Ten years ago Harbledown Church passed a motion that barred those bishops from celebrating holy communion with the congregation.

It also means that a so-called flying bishop must be brought in when someone is confirmed there.

The motion was passed before the present Rector, Father Michael Morris, came to Harbledown. But it is a decision he is happy with.

Harbledown is not alone. According to the article in The Sunday Times the parish is one of 350 that has passed resolution C, under the Episcopal Ministry Act of Synod 1993.

The resolution enables those opposed to the ordination of women to remain within the Church of England but to distance themselves from their bishop if he is pro-women.

The bishop can preach at a church that adopts the resolution but cannot celebrate holy communion there. Instead churches use the services of a flying bishop, in Harbledown’s case the Bishop of Richborough.

Mr Morris said: “We are the only parish in the Canterbury Deanery that took a vote on the issue and the resolution was adopted 10 years ago.

“I do agree with it and I am opposed to the ordination of women to priesthood although I am perfectly happy to work with women who are ordained."

Bishop in Canterbury the Rt Rev Stephen Venner said it had been possible for the last decade for parishes to ask if a flying bishop could look after them.

“Five parishes in the diocese of Canterbury are in that formal position today. They remain very much part of our diocesan family and continue to play a full and valued part in our life and witness,” he said.

The other four parishes in the diocese that have adopted resolution C are St Peter’s, Folkestone; St Michael’s, Maidstone; All Saints, Eastchurch, and St Andrew’s, Deal.