People can have deep friendship, and call it friendship

Dr Carey

He told the Breakfast with Frost programme: "Marriage is a relationship between man and a woman. I don't think it actually helps to confuse terms."

He went on: "People can have deep friendship, and call it friendship, but we don't have to muddy the waters in terms of calling it marriage. So let's be clear about the language we use."

But in a wide-ranging interview, the spiritual leader of the Church of England signalled flexibility over the question of the church remarrying divorcees.

"We do send out a muddled signal to people," he said.

Carey: Nearly 10 years as Archbishop of Canterbury

"I personally believe that marriage is such a major, major moment in anyone's life that we as a church should be generous and welcoming as far as we possibly can be.

"And that is why we are producing a report later this year, which the Church of England will discuss, which I hope actually will take us forward, because I'm concerned about this very thing."

Dr Carey was asked whether he could ever envisage his post being filled by a woman or by a homosexual.

He said a female Archbishop of Canterbury was a possibility, depending on the outcome of the deliberations of a working group examining the issue.

But he acknowledged the Church was still "grappling" with the homosexuality issue.

Non-practising homosexuals are allowed in the priesthood, but the Church "draws a line at practising homosexuals because the Church has a clear ruling on what kind of lifestyle we require in the ordained ministry", he said.