London, June. 10 (PTI): In a landmark move, Gordon Brown is preparing to give up the Prime Minister's historic right to choose the Archbishop of Canterbury - and other Church of England bishops - after he takes over the reins of the country from Tony Blair on June 27.

The move to grant "operational independence" to the Church will represent one of the biggest changes to its relationship with the State for centuries.

It is just one of a swathe of "royal prerogative" powers, held by the prime minister, which Brown, the premier-in- waiting, is planning to do away with once he moves to 10 Downing Street.

According to a report in The Sunday Telegraph, Brown will also give up his prerogative power to declare war without the consent of parliament. Military action, such as the invasion of Iraq, will in future have to be approved in advance by MPs.

Brown, according to his aides, wants his government to be seen as representing "all faiths and all cultures", and not tied significantly to the Church of England.

Brown, whose father was a minister in the Church of Scotland, is determined that the Church of England will make up its own mind on who should succeed Rowan Williams as Archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual head of 70 million Anglicans worldwide. He was appointed in 2002.

His proposals raise the possibility that he might take steps to remove the right of bishops to take their seats in the House of Lords.

According to the report, Chancellor Brown has asked officials and senior politicians with close links to the Church to investigate the best way that he can renounce the "power of patronage".