The Archbishop of Armagh also called for Anglicans over the world to return to the core principles of the faith in order to resolve the ongoing controversy over gay marriages.

Addressing the Anglicans in World Mission conference in Swanwick, England, Archbishop Harper said if evidence came to light that homosexuality is biologically predetermined then the church would have to reflect that fact.

"It has not yet been conclusively shown that for some males and some females homosexuality and homosexual acts are natural rather than unnatural," the Archbishop told the conference.

"If such comes to be shown, it will be necessary to acknowledge the full implications of that new aspect of the truth, and that insight applied to establish and acknowledge what may be a new status for homosexual relationships within the life of the Church."

The Church of Ireland leader's remarks come in the wake of the recent controversial comments by the Assembly's health committee chair and born again Christian Iris Robinson who claimed that gay sex was a sin and an abomination.

In recent years the Anglican church has been riven with division on the issue of gay marriage and the ordination of women priests.