Disestablishment would be the last nail in the coffin of the C o E - one would have to ask who would wish to join and support it as a viable place for Christians to come together with a living faith, if it's position was divorced from the community it is meant to serve? Its on the brink as it is!

David, Ipswich, England

Yes please, let's separate Church from State and get the bishops out of the House of Lords. Christianity is increasingly a minority pursuit and it's about time that it was made clear to them that they have no right to dictate to the rest of us how to live our lives.

Sally Marshall, Bristol,

"What exactly does the C of E exist for apart from serving believers?"

Erik, Sheffield

Perhaps serving non-believers and believers of other faiths according to the tenets of the Christian religion?

Just as the Good Samaritan helped the Jew, so the C of E can help those who are not Anglican.

Rob, Cardiff, UK

Disestablishment would be good for the country, helping us to be more truly secular. It would also be good for the Church as it would be able to be truer to it's principles. When is a politician going to have the guts to make it happen

Tony Gosling, London, UK

At last an Archbishop who is prepared to stand up and be counted...Christ was not part of a establishment and neither should his representitives be..The Church of england lost is way a long time ago...clearly its voice has been lost in a sea of confusion between church and state...

pat barrins, edinburgh, uk

"...the Church (is) a public body that does not exist simply to serve believers and... whether or not most people attend regularly is irrelevant." This simply highlights the outdated and irrelevant nature of a national religion. What exactly does the C of E exist for apart from serving believers?

Erik Pan, Sheffield,

Maybe it would be a relief if we were to become a disestablished community of faith.....perhaps it would help us to be radical and faithful and stop bowing to the powers that be!!!!!!

Olaf Eriksson, Darlington,

There should be NO established religion. The state is a separate entity and has nothing to do with faith. The church of England is a minority religion in some parts of the UK and the continued ban on catholics being PM or marrying Royals is ludicrous and sectarian. It makes a mockery of equality.

ed, hampshire, uK

The most significant consequence of establishment is education. A democratic state should be impartial, keep out of religious schooling, and provide no funds or charitable status for any religious body.

Jim Guest, G. Manchester,

Why should the Anglican communion be the established church now? Roman Catholicism has more worshippers in the UK. If we are to have a state sponsored religion surely it should be the one most people adhere to.

Graham, Sutton Coldfield, UK

Wouldn't it be nice if the church managed to address some of the important issues in the world instead of worry about women bishops and gays and disestabishment.

Are they aware of anything at all that's happening outside the cloisters? Thought not.

tris, dundee,

We should have a completely secular political system.

Colin MacKenzie, Crieff, GB

See the results of disestablished in France and other places.Christianty is still the religion of nearly 80% of the population and shaped our nation.
Labout have wanted this since Blair came to power and after this expect the euro and Royal Family to be next.
Williams should be replaced

John.., Peterlee, UK

Church of England is founded on the sins of one person, apostasy and increasing heresy, and I will be glad to see it not only disestablished, but also dissolved. Anyone who seriously seeks God and the meaning of one's life should steer clear off such a 'church'.

Tom, Warsaw, Poland

Church attendance is at its lowest level ever, but yet the Church of England still has 26 bishops who sit in the House of Lords. Why should we continue with this anachronism whereby bishops are placed in a privileged position with the aim of promoting Christianity?

Des, Edinburgh,

He is one the worst to have held that ancient position. What a tragedy that he was appointed. He has damaged not only the church with posturing like this, but sought to undermine our entire culture, with his pandering to sharia. He really should resign.

Nick, Rotherham, UK

One feels sometimes it wouldn't exercise Dr Williams too much if his entire church dissolved.

Mark Dowling, Toronto, Canada