The second senior most cleric in the Church of England has warned that British Prime Minister David Cameron will be acting like a "dictator" if he legalises homosexual marriages.

Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu warned British politicians against overruling the Bible by legalising same-sex marriages.

His warning comes ahead of discussions on the issue, with Cameron vowing to support the move.

Dr Sentamu said the state has on role to play in redefining marriages, threatening a new row between the Church and state.

"Marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman. I don't think it is the role of the state to define what marriage is. It is set in tradition and history and you can't just [change it] overnight, no matter how powerful you are," The Telegraph quoted Dr Sentamu, as saying.

"We've seen dictators do it in different contexts and I don't want to redefine very clear social structures that have been in existence for a long time and then overnight the state believes it could go in a particular way," he added.

Dr Sentamu said that bishops in the House of Lords had not deterred the Labour Government from introducing civil partnerships in 2004 that had given improved legal rights to the homosexuals.

He added that the Church was also not opposed to the 2011 move to allow civil partnership ceremonies to take place in places of worship, as long as it is voluntary and agreed by the governing body of any particular denomination. (ANI)