Welby ‘would rather see C of E disestablished than split over same-sex marriage’

Archbishop is said to have made comment in response to MPs querying church's approach

The archbishop of Canterbury has said he would rather see the Church of England lose its privileged status as the established church of the country than risk the global church fracturing over disagreements on same-sex marriage, the Guardian has been told.

Justin Welby, who will crown King Charles in a religious ceremony in May, reportedly made the comment at a private meeting with about a dozen MPs at Lambeth Palace on Monday.