Tory Brexiteers have accused the Archbishop of Canterbury of meddling in politics in a furious spat over meetings to help stop a no-deal Brexit .
Justin Welby is understood to be in talks with MPs to chair 'Citizens' Assemblies' - which would find alternatives to crashing out on October 31.
But Iain Duncan Smith told The Times: "I generally don't criticise the archbishop but he shouldn't allow himself to be tempted into what is essentially a very political issue right now.
"This assembly is designed to destabilise Boris Johnson ’s position. As such I hope he will recognise the deeply political nature of this.”
And Brexiteer 'ultra' Mark Francois, vice-chairman of the European Research Group of Tory MPs, moaned: "It is three years since the referendum result and I suspect the British people are sick and tired of being lectured by politicians about why we should overturn their democratic decision.
"I suspect they will not be overjoyed by having it rubbed in by the Archbishop of Canterbury to boot.”
Cross-party talks to hold citizens' assemblies have been previously mooted by several MPs including Labour's Stella Creasy.
One plan would involve a 'jury' of 250 randomly-selected people working out the next steps for Brexit.
It's thought the latest round of talks - which could see an event at Coventry Cathedral next month - involve MPs including Tory Caroline Spelman.
The Archbishop has been an outspoken critic of aspects of Tory policy.
Last year he called for a halt to the rollout of Universal Credit warning it was causing "intense suffering".
And after the 2016 referendum, the archbishop told the House of Lords that the campaign had resulted in an "out-welling of poison and hatred" in Britain.
He added: "It is essential not only in this house but for the leaders of both sides and throughout our society to challenge the attacks, the xenophobia and the racism that seem to have been felt to be acceptable at least for a while."
Today he received support from his fellow clergymen, the Bishop of Buckingham.
The Right Rev Alan Wilson said: "In a mature democracy people would not be afraid of doing this, because it would show what people's concerns and fears and hopes and aspirations around this subject were."
Lambeth Palace has been contacted for comment.
