The Arch-enchiladas of Canterbury and York are proving to be congenitally cack-handed at contrition. Getting the archbishops to mutter a mea culpa is more difficult than getting Jeremy Corbyn to hum Hatikvah.

Perched on a wooden garden bench, dressed in a floral multicoloured summer shirt and matching pectoral cross, Dr John Sentamu told The Telegraph: "The reason I think there is a limit on the retirement age of archbishops is that you can go gaga really and start embarrassing everybody!

"There is nothing more terrible than that, when someone is in their prime and can do a wonderful job. It doesn't help in any way -- it doesn't help the person, it doesn't help the church either.

Survivors of clerical sexual abuse have argued that mandatory reporting of allegations or suspicions of abuse to statutory authorities is a vital component of effective child protection. They argue that a failure to comply should lead to criminal sanctions.

Welby told the inquiry that John Sentamu, the archbishop of York, shared his view. "We now both believe in mandatory reporting."

"Given that the Church of England's teaching about marriage is that it is a lifelong and exclusive union between one man and one woman, if one person in a couple undergoes gender transition, has consideration been given as to whether they are still married according to the teaching of the Church of England?" Ms Dailey asked in papers published on Thursday.

The Bishop of Newcastle, Christine Hardman, will reply on behalf of the Chair of the House of Bishops on Friday.