Most Rev Justin Welby, who sits in the House of Lords, renewed calls for a cross-party commission to negotiate Britain's departure from the European Union, as he said major decisions should be taken "off the political table".
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Can the politicians not put at the front of their minds the needs of the United Kingdom to come out with a functional, working system for Brexit, and agree that certain things that, as it were, 'off the political table' and will be decided separately in an expert commission, or commission of senior politicians led by someone that is trusted in the political world?"
The Prime Minister's official spokesman responded: "We are committed to, and are, consulting widely on the issues of Brexit but there are no plans in relation to a commission."
Downing Street also insisted the Government was committed to the two-year Brexit timetable.
Conservative MP Philip Davies was the first to criticise. According to the Daily Telegraph, he said: "To be perfectly frank, if he spent more time worrying about the size of congregations in churches across the country and less time worrying about the Brexit negotiations, he might get somewhere."
Another Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said he had great respect for Justin Welby and his work but suggested he should stay out of Brexit talks.
He told The Daily Telegraph: "I always think that when religious leaders get involved in politics and politicians get involved in religion it is nothing but trouble. Best to stick to what we do."
