declined to comment on the question of church blessings for civil partnerships or same-sex couples. The law was recently relaxed to allow civil partnership ceremonies to be held in religious buildings, enabling a handful to take place through the Unitarian church. Although the Church of England itself currently does not offer civil partnership blessings -officially at least -- here are suggestions it could consider offering them as a compromise to prevent same-sex marriage. Rev Canon Giles Goddard, of the Inclusive Church group, said: "There is a desire amongst a significant number of people to move forward on this issue and I'm sure this is part of that. "He has chosen his words carefully so as not to give a hostage to fortune. "But his comments are welcome." Among those who sent messages of support to the incoming Archbishop were the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, the Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols, the Chief Rabbi Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks and the Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II. Meanwhile David Cameron said his experience in the business world would bring as "breath of fresh air to the Church of England." And the Tory MP Tony Baldry, who is a Church Estates Commissioner, added that he looked forward to a future Archbishop being a woman.