20 November 2012 Last updated at 22:29 ET

Women bishops: Justin Welby says vote against a 'grim day'

The Bishop of Durham, Justin Welby, urged a 'yes' vote at the General Synod

The next Archbishop of Canterbury has called the rejection of women bishops a "very grim day", as bishops prepare for an emergency meeting on the issue.

The ordination of women bishops in the Church of England was narrowly rejected by its ruling general synod on Tuesday.

The Rt Rev Justin Welby, who takes over the Church's top role next year, said the lost vote was hard "most of all for women priests and supporters".

Critics had said the change would not bring unity to the Church.

The proposed legislation paving the way for women bishops needed to gain two-thirds majority support in each of the synod's three houses - bishops, clergy and laity - but fell short by six votes in the House of Laity.

The result was greeted with emotion, with some supporters seen crying.

Bishop Welby, the current Bishop of Durham and a supporter of women bishops, tweeted overnight: "Very grim day, most of all for women priests and supporters, need to surround all with prayer & love and co-operate with our healing God."

The House of Bishops will meet from 08:30 GMT to "consider the consequences of the vote", the Church's media office said.

The general synod's voting requirements meant that although 324 members voted to approve the proposed legislation and 122 voted to reject it, it was not passed.

The House of Laity is the largest element of the general synod and is made up of lay members of the Church elected by its 44 dioceses.

"The House of Bishops recognises that the Church of England has expressed its mind that women should be consecrated as bishops," the Rt Rev Graham James, the Bishop of Norwich, said.

"There is now an urgent task to find a fresh way forward to which so many of those who were opposed have pledged themselves."

The votes were 44 for and three against with two abstentions in the House of Bishops, 148 for and 45 against in the House of Clergy, and 132 for and 74 against in the House of Laity.

Controversy had centred on the provisions for parishes opposed to women bishops to request supervision by a stand-in male bishop.

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, reads the results of the vote

Equalities minister Maria Miller said the vote outcome was "very disappointing", and showed that the Church was "behind the times", sources said.

Christina Rees, a campaigner for women bishops, said the result was a "disaster".

"It's a real shame. I really thought it would go through, most of the synod is in a state of shock.

"Seventy-four per cent of the synod said yes... I think it's a betrayal of trust in the wider Church."

The Catholic Group on the General Synod, which backed a "no" vote, said in a statement: "We regret the synod was put in the position whereby draft legislation failed at final approval because it was unclear and unfair in its provision for those who, in conscience, are unable to accept the ministry of women as bishops or priests."

It called on the House of Bishops to reconvene the talks started in the summer between representatives of different groups, chaired by Bishop Welby.

The Rev Prebendary Rod Thomas, chairman of the conservative evangelical grouping Reform, which also recommended a "no" vote, said: "My overall conclusion is that it is very good news for the Church of England.

The Right Reverend Graham James: "Obviously it is very disappointing that the vote was lost"

"We have avoided what could have been a disastrous mistake for our unity and witness."

But the outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Rowan Williams, spoke of his "deep personal sadness" after the vote.

He said: "Of course I hoped and prayed that this particular business would be at another stage before I left, and... it is a personal sadness, a deep personal sadness that that is not the case."

He will give his farewell address to the General Synod later on Wednesday.

Source : bbc[dot]co[dot]uk