Conservative bishops within the Church of England have created a new leadership body amid opposition to the appointment of the Church’s first female Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) announced the formation of the new council in Abuja and named Laurent Mbanda, Archbishop of Rwanda, as its chairman.

The move comes ahead of the installation of Sarah Mullally, 63, who is set to become Archbishop of Canterbury on March 25, a historic first for the Anglican Communion, which spans about 165 countries and counts roughly 85 million members worldwide.

Her nomination has been welcomed in some quarters but criticised by several African church leaders. Henry Ndukuba of the Church of Nigeria said many Anglicans do not support a woman serving as head of the Church.

GAFCON reiterated its position that the Bible requires a male-only episcopacy, describing itself as a global movement committed to guarding orthodox Anglican doctrine.

The Archbishop of Canterbury serves as the spiritual head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and traditionally presides over major royal events in the United Kingdom.