The Archbishop of Canterbury used a Wallington church service to give one of his first interviews since announcing he is to retire from his post.

Dr Rowan Williams answered questions from Reverend Will Cookson before giving the Mothering Sunday service at Springfield Church in Wallington.

His visit had been planned for many months, but came just two days after Dr Williams announced he was to step down from his post at the head of the Church of England after more than 10 years in charge.

When asked by Rev Cookson what he would miss most about the role, Dr Williams said the trips to developing countries, adding that he had found a visit to Kenya last year "amazingly moving".

He said: "To see what the church does and can do with women who have been in war, with children that have been abducted and coerced into militias, it is amazing to see how they help them."

Dr Williams said people’s perception of the church has changed over the past decade, with a rise in suspicion of religion.

He said: "9/11 brought that to a head in some ways. Some governments assume that vicars are imams in dog collars.

"Either you are a committed fanatic who wants everyone to follow your regime or you are a woolly liberal who can be persuaded to go along with what is happening in society.

"The church is neither of those things. We do not come with a political agenda."

Dr Williams also told the congregation he had felt nervous about recently meeting evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins.

He said: "I never feel the best in debate. You have to be quick on your feet, and clever and slick. I always feel anxious about that. I like to think about what I am going to say.

She said: "I thought it was a great service. I really appreciated his preaching, and the interview at the beginning was good because I felt that we got to know him better."

Dr Williams, 61, spent the early part of the morning taking questions from the church youth group before presiding over the main church service.

Rev Cookson said the visit was inspirational for his congregation.