The Church of England announced yesterday it had withdrawn its investments in a controversial company as theologians and priests intended to publish a letter denouncing the Church's investment.

Pressures from several directions may put disestablishment of the Church of England back on the agenda, say reports following the General Synod and concerns about the long term impact of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Sharia speech.

The Church of England's governing body, its General Synod of lay people, clergy and bishops, will be asked to support a resolution recognising both sides in the current global debate on human sexuality when it meets later this month.

A march is to take place in two months time, involving the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, to express repentance for the Church of England's complicity in the slave trade.