The Archbishop of Canterbury was at the centre of a major row after claiming that the adoption of elements of Islamic sharia law in the UK "seems unavoidable".

Christian and secular groups were last night swift to criticise Rowan Williams' comments with one branding them "madness".

Stephen Green, national director of Christian Voice, said: "This is a Christian country with Christian laws. If Muslims want to live under sharia law, then they are free to emigrate to a country where sharia law is already in operation."

Trevor Phillips, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said the archbishop's remarks were "muddled" and "unhelpful", and would "give fuel to anti-Muslim extremism".

The archbishop noted how elements of sharia were already recognised in British society and under national law, so it was not a matter of introducing an "alien and rival system". He added: "There are ways of looking at marital disputes, for example, which provide an alternative to the divorce courts as we understand them. In some cultural and religious settings, they would seem more appropriate."

Last night, Mohammed Shafiq, director of the Ramadhan Foundation, said the comments "further underline the attempts by both our great faiths to build respect and tolerance".

Ibrahim Mogra of the Muslim Council of Britain, said the issue was a very small aspect of sharia for Muslims, mainly on matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and custody of children.