GAY human rights activist Peter Tatchell was today expected to take action to rekindle the row over gay canon Jeffrey John at the Church of England's General Synod meeting in York.

Mr Tatchell is attempting to draw the Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, into the debate by calling on him to support Mr John against what he claims is homophobia in the Anglican Church.

The campaigner is taking part in three days of action in the city with the gay rights group Outrage! and has already staged a protest at York Minster.

He attacked the "homophobic witch-hunt" against Mr John, and said the Church of England is continuing to ignore the contribution of gay people to the church and society in general.

In 1995, Mr Tatchell exchanged letters with Dr Hope, then Archbishop of London, and invited him to say if he was homosexual.

But at that time Dr Hope said people should not be stereotyped sexually and said the Outrage! campaign was "disturbing" and "intimidatory". He said that his sexuality was a "grey area" and that while some people chose to describe themselves as homosexual or heterosexual he chose not to do so.

The Synod last night ruled that it would not debate the controversy surrounding the appointment of the openly-gay canon as the Bishop of Reading and his subsequent decision to withdraw.

A spokesman for the Archbishop said today: "We have no comment to make on this issue. As far as we are concerned, the matter was closed eight years ago."

Updated: 10:42 Saturday, July 12, 2003