THE Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Right Reverend Peter Price, has called for a pause in moves to allow gay marriage.
The Bishop, whose diocese covers North Somerset, wants more time for debate and a national conversation.
The coalition Government has said it wants to introduce gay marriages by 2015. Currently same-sex couples can only take part in civil partnerships.
Bishop Peter, pictured, told the Bath and Wells Diocesan Synod meeting in Bridgwater on Saturday: "If 'more haste, less speed' isn't exactly a religious text, it is a suitable bon mot for the times in which we find ourselves."
He said to the Synod that civil partnerships were established seven years ago to reflect a major change that had happened in society.
But he added: "Adapting to that change takes time, and we don't all go at the same pace."
He went on: "The law on civil partnerships followed a cultural change – some people have made, and continue to make, long-term relationships with people of the same gender. The danger of the current proposals, as the Archbishop of Canterbury has pointed out, is that using the law to bring about a change in the culture is risky."
Bishop Peter, giving his Presidential Address, defended marriage and said "it is unlikely we shall decide to ditch marriage as an institution".
He said in all ages and cultures it had been seen as a safe place to create and bring up children and he said the Church had a very high view of marriage though marriage itself had changed over the years and the Church should ask questions.
"There is much to be reflected up and conversed," he said. "We need to strive together for deeper understanding and acceptance."
His comments came as senior members of the Catholic church in England sent letters to 2,500 parish to be read out at mass yesterday, urging believes to oppose the move towards gay marriage.
Archbishop Vincent Nichols, the leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, and Archbishop Peter Smith, the Archbishop of Southwark, told Catholics they had a "duty to do all we can to ensure that the true meaning of marriage is not lost for future generations".
Changing the legal definition of marriage would be a "profoundly radical step", they warned, and would strip the union of its "distinctive nature".
It would reduce it to just the commitment of the two people involved, without recognising the intention of procreation and the education of children, the letter says.
"Changing the legal definition of marriage would be a profoundly radical step," the Archbishops say.
"The law helps to shape and form social and cultural values. A change in the law would gradually and inevitably transform society's understanding of the purpose of marriage.
"It would reduce it just to the commitment of the two people involved. There would be no recognition of the complementarity of male and female or that marriage is intended for the procreation and education of children."
The letter argues that the roots of marriage lie in human nature and the pattern of "complementarity and fertility" in the union are affirmed by many other religious traditions.
It says: "Neither the Church nor the State has the power to change this fundamental understanding of marriage itself."
And it insists that same-sex couples are not unfairly discriminated against under the current law.
Prime Minister David Cameron's official spokesman said in response: "The Government has made clear its commitment to equality. We believe people should have the option of civil marriage, irrespective of sexual orientation."
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