The Archbishop of Canterbury has come under fire from senior clergymen amid claims he is dividing the Church.

Dr Rowan Williams was attacked by senior Anglican leaders for causing a split under his liberal leadership.

The Rt Rev Peter Akinola, Archbishop of Nigeria, openly criticised Dr Williams at talks in Jerusalem today for leaving the communion in “unprecedented brokenness and turmoil”.

Dr Williams was also attacked for failing to discipline the US Episcopal Church over the consecration of an openly gay bishop in 2003.

According to national newspaper reports, the eight-day meeting attended by 300 bishops threatens to upstage Dr Williams’ conference in Lambeth next month - a summit meeting of Anglican bishops held every 10 years.

But already 280 bishops have declared their intention to boycott the July meeting, including Bishop of Rochester, Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, because of the liberal factions within the Church.

Archbishop Henri Orombi of Uganda was among those who called on the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams to take a tougher stance.

Dr Nazir-Ali, who is due to speak on the future of the Anglican communion tomorrow, risks alienating himself from fellow clergy over his refusal to attend Lambeth.