The Archbishop of York has complained of a “disregard for truth” in regards to recent criticism of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Dr John Sentamu criticised the “spin” and “propaganda” directed against Dr Rowan Williams after a commission he was part of rejected the nomination of a gay priest to be the next Bishop of Southwark.

Dr Jeffrey John, the gay dean of St Alban’s, was believed to be a frontrunner for the next Bishop of Southwark. Although the Diocese of Southwark said it was unable to confirm he was on the list of candidates, he was reportedly rejected by the Crown Nominations Commission earlier this week because of fears of a split in the Church of England.

Addressing the Church of England’s General Synod today, Dr Sentamu said: "It deeply saddens me that there is not only a general disregard for the truth, but a rapacious appetite for 'carelessness' compounded by spin, propaganda and the resort to misleading opinions paraded as fact, regarding a remarkable, gifted and much-maligned Christian leader I call a dear friend and trusted colleague - one Rowan Williams.”

Conservative Anglicans said they would seek alternative oversight if Dr John were successful in his bid to become the Church of England’s first gay bishop.

In a statement, Reform said that appointing Dr John would send the signal that the Diocese of Southwark “wants to walk in a different direction to the Church of England’s doctrine” and “the same divisive direction as the Episcopal Church in the USA (TEC)”.

“We would support churches in Southwark seeking alternative oversight should Dr John be appointed,” it had warned.

Dr John was appointed Bishop of Reading in 2003 but stepped down from the role following protests from conservative Anglicans.

The Diocese of Southwark said the list of candidates for Bishop of Southwark would not be made public until the autumn, after being approved by the Prime Minister and the Queen.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has recently criticised actions by TEC. The Church consecrated its first openly gay bishop in 2003 and its first lesbian bishop this year, a move the Archbishop called “regrettable”.