A man has been arrested on suspicion of assault after temporarily disrupting the start of a General Synod service at York Minster.

The man was restrained within yards of the Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Rev Justin Welby and the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu as they processed in for the beginning of the Holy Communion service. The Church of England said the man, who was held at the back of the Minster before being removed by police, was not a protester.

A spokesman said two people suffered minor injuries in the scuffle – a member of Dr Sentamu’s staff, Dave Smith, who had a bloodied face and a steward who suffered a bump to the back of his head.

Mr Smith was seen by ambulance staff and changed his shirt before returning to the service.

The Most Rev. Welby went to the back of the Minster during the traditional exchange of the Sign of Peace to speak at length to Mr Smith.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire police said: “We received a call just after 10 O’Clock with a report of an assault on a male at York Minster.

“We were there within minutes and one male was arrested on suspicion of assault.”