As it was remarked by several of you last week, Father Don Curran's resolution that we support The Network financially came to us at the end of our meeting in May without any advance warning, and several of you expressed a degree of discomfort with making a decision like that and having no chance to reflect or pray about it beforehand.

But Martin Reynolds, of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, urged parishioners to give him a chance.

Caring pastor

Mr Reynolds told BBC News that Dr John has a "fantastic, pastoral heart" said he was "horrified" by objections to the appointment. "To the people of St Alban's I say you've got a fantastic parish priest, a fantastic dean - give him a chance," he said.

And the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Rev Christopher Herbert, also welcomed Dr John's appointment.

The split is amicable. St. Bartholomew’s unanimously opposes Robinson’s consecration and the recognition of same-sex blessings in the Church.

But some members, according to Senior Warden Scott Kammerer, want to “stay and fight for orthodoxy within the Episcopal Church,” while others “cannot tolerate what they see as apostasy” and feel they must leave.

“They can no longer with good conscience remain affiliated with the Episcopal Church,” said Kammerer.

Church Society and others have consistently argued that it is unacceptable for someone who teaches the acceptability of same sex sexual practice to be a minister in the Church of England.