10:41am UK, Friday July 02, 2004

Gay clergyman, Canon Jeffrey John, will take one of the most senior jobs in the Church of England this afternoon.   

His installation as the new Dean of St Albans comes after he was forced to withdraw his candidature as Bishop of Reading last year.

Dr Jeffrey John

The new appointment has been moved forward from October in a move to silence conservative opposition.   

About 2,000 people are expected to pack the cathedral for the service in which he will formally become rector of the parish of St Albans Abbey and Dean of St Albans Cathedral.   

Dr John, 51, who is gay but celibate, was forced to withdraw his acceptance of the post of Bishop of Reading after a bitter row over gay priests within the church.   

His new appointment, among the most senior posts in the Church of England, was announced by Downing Street earlier this year.   

St Albans Cathedral chapter has already said it welcomes Dr John's appointment as the new dean, claiming he has the support of the "vast" majority of the congregation.   

But there have been protests from a group of around 40 evangelical clergy and laity in the diocese who have expressed their "dismay" over his appointment.