Gay bishop-elect makes address

Gene Robinson will address the conference via video-link

A group of gay and lesbian Christians banned from holding a service at Manchester Cathedral were beginning a conference on Friday.

The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM) conference was set to be addressed by openly gay US bishop-elect Gene Robinson.

Mr Robinson - who will be speaking at the University of Manchester via video link - is the first openly gay man due to be consecrated as an Anglican bishop in America.

The LGCM had planned to hold a service at the cathedral on Sunday as part of its Halfway to Lambeth conference.

But the cathedral's invitation was withdrawn amid an international row over the role of homosexuality within the Anglican church.

Compromise rejected

The banned service will now be held at St Chrysostom's Church, near the University of Manchester.

Two of the Bishop of Manchester's staff resigned in protest at the ban.

Gay human rights group OutRage! called for the Bishop of Manchester, the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, to resign over the row.

The LGCM rejected a compromise deal to offer delegates an invitation to join the congregation for morning worship.