Barry Morgan, the new Archbishop of Wales

The Right Reverend Dr Barry Morgan - to be officially enthroned at Llandaff Cathedral on Saturday - said he hoped that this "sad" situation, which has dominated the Church of England in recent weeks, would not happen in the Church in Wales.

Dr Morgan's predecessor Dr Rowan Williams - now Archbishop of Canterbury - has come in for harsh criticism in the debate over the appointment of Dr Jeffery John as Bishop of Reading.

Dr John withdrew his acceptance of the post earlier this week, following weeks of bitter argument which divided the Anglican Church.

Lots of priests who are homosexual by orientation don't practice and lead celibate lives and that is not a problem. Dr Barry Morgan

Dr Williams was forced to compromise his liberal principles and accept that opposition to a gay bishop was too great a threat to church unity.

Dr Morgan said if the issue arose in Wales, he would hope for more understanding.

"I am anxious it will not become an issue as it has in the Church of England," said the 56-year-old father-of-two.

"Opinions become polarised and people really begin to fight one another and the whole church is split - it is not helpful.

"Some people are determined to make the Archbishop of Canterbury's life hell over it as if it were the defining characteristic of Anglicanism, which is total nonsense."

"It is incredibly sad.

Dr Williams was the previous Archbishop of Wales

"Lots of priests who are homosexual by orientation don't practice and lead celibate lives and that is not a problem.

"The problem comes if someone is homosexual and is promiscuous - then that is real issue, whether homosexual or heterosexual."

Dr Morgan said the main challenge for the church concerned making "the connection between faith and life".

He feels clergy will have to adopt new methods - such as holding more mid-week services - to halt the continuing decline in congregations across Wales.

"Lots of people say they believe in god, and pray to god, but don't come to church? What is it about our church life that doesn't attract people?"

He also said that not all parishes were facing declining numbers, but that patterns of attendance were also changing.

"Lots of people worship on a weekday - we have got to build in an adult education programme on weekdays.

"We have got to get to grips with the world in which we live."