The Archbishop of Wales has expressed his opposition to Trident in his Presidential Address to the Governing Body of the Church in Wales which met at the University College of Wales in Lampeter this week.

In his address, the Most Rev Dr Barry Morgan called for a proper debate to be held on government plans to replace the Trident nuclear weapons programme, arguing that the £25 billion cost "could prevent 16,000 children dying every day from diseases caused by impure water and malnutrition".

He criticised the 'first strike' foreign policy of the post Cold War era, saying, "We have already adopted the stance in our dealings with Iraq. All that this does is to increase rather than reduce insecurity in our world."

Rather, the Archbishop of Wales repeated the calls of other church leaders for the British government to take a leading role in "giving new impetus to the non-proliferation treaty", arguing that the replacement of Trident "proves a strong motivation for other countries to acquire a nuclear weapon".

He said: "Britain's own social needs for a peaceful and just society, based on adequate public services and reduced inequalities, are a far better use of the huge sums of money necessary for any replacement programme or for indeed maintaining present Trident performance."

His comments came as the Governing Body of the Church in Wales supported a motion condemning Trident renewal.

In his diverse address, the Archbishop of Wales went on to urge the Church and individuals to play an active role in exerting their influencing legislation in the Welsh Assembly.

"There is an enormous opportunity for religious bodies and voluntary associations, to advise and assist the Assembly Government and Assembly in formulating Orders in Council and the laws to be made under them will provide separate and different laws in Wales," said Archbishop Morgan.

"This therefore, gives us as a Church and Nation the unique opportunity to influence directly our own legislation."

He also encouraged debate on the issue of homosexuality in the Anglican Communion and warned about the possible fracture of the Anglican Communion, saying that "the fault lines will run through provinces as well as between them".