The Archbishop is expected to defend himself after a storm of hostile criticism following a BBC interview he gave last week in which he said the adoption of some aspects of Islamic sharia law in the UK “seems unavoidable”.

The interview preceded a public lecture in which Dr Williams said UK law needs to continue to find accommodation with religious legal codes such as the Islamic system of Sharia law if community cohesion and development are to be achieved.

His remarks drew criticism from church leaders, secular groups and government figures with at least two Synod members calling for him to go.

His predecessor Lord (George) Carey reported: “He has in my opinion overstated the case for accommodating Islamic legal codes.

“His conclusion that Britain will eventually have to concede some place in law for aspects of sharia is a view I cannot share.”

But Lord Carey also defended the Archbishop, saying:

“This is not a matter upon which Dr Williams should resign. He is a great leader in the Anglican tradition and he has a very important role to play in the Church.

“He has my full support. I telephoned him to say this to him and to tell him he is in my prayers. I understand he is horrified by what has happened.”

A leading conservative Anglican leader, the Archbishop of the Southern Cone, the Most Rev Gregory Venables, also joined the criticism.

He told the BBC Radio 4 Sunday programme:

“Taking it within the context of other things that have been said and done in recent months it would just add to the general sense that confidence in the leadership of the Anglican Church has plummeted, which is why a number of significant people have chosen not to go to (the) Lambeth (conference).”

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, the leader of Catholics in England and Wales said:

“When people come into this country they have to obey the laws of the land.”

He added: “There are aspects of sharia that are practised that we certainly wouldn’t want in this country.

“The laws of this country don’t allow forced marriages or polygamy.

“It seems to me a government and a country has a right to make sure that those laws are kept.”

Dr Williams defended himself on his website on Friday, saying he had made no proposals for sharia, and “certainly did not call for its introduction as some kind of parallel jurisdiction to the civil law”.

He has been backed by some Church figures, who have spoken of their frustration at the reception his remarks have received in the media.

The Bishop of Hulme, the Rt Rev Stephen Lowe, said he was appalled at the “knee-jerk” reaction to a serious piece of academic work.

The Rev Giles Fraser, vicar of Putney, told the BBC Radio 4 Sunday programme the media had descended on Dr Williams like a “pack of dogs”.

“I think the big issue here is the way the press has treated the Archbishop of Canterbury for raising a legitimate issue for him to raise.

“That is the big moral picture here.

“They have been a pack of dogs having a go at him without even trying to understand what he said.

“There is something sinister about a culture that judges first and tries to understand later.”

Alison Ruoff, a General Synod member from London, said last night:

“He is a disaster for the Church of England.

“He vacillates, he is a weak leader and he does not stand up for the Church. I would like to see him resign and go back to academia.”

Archbishop of the Southern Cone Greg Venables, a leading figure in the Church in South America, said: “Taking it within the context of other things said and done in recent months, it adds to the general sense that confidence in the leadership of the Anglican Church has plummeted.”

Colonel Edward Armitstead, a Synod member from the diocese of Bath and Wells, said: “Rowan Williams is a godly, gracious and clearly very able person in many ways. But I don’t think he’s got the gift of leadership the Church needs at this present time.

“The Church is facing difficulties with falling attendances, diminished financial giving and fewer men and women coming forward for ordination to full-time ministry and it really needs a clear Christian leadership.

“He has set this hare running when there are other things of perhaps greater importance for the Church to consider.”
Labour Chief Whip Geoff Hoon added: “I’m not sure it was wise of the Archbishop of Canterbury to comment on these rather complicated legal matters.”

Dr Williams has vowed to friends that he will not quit, though he admits being “shocked” at the anger his remarks last week provoked.