Rebels who last year failed to block Father William Hayward's appointment to St. Mark's Church have resumed their bid to remove him by tabling a motion of no confidence in the cleric, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

Five new members -- all identified as opponents of Fr. Hayward -- were elected to the church's vestry at the annual general meeting on Sunday and the motion of no confidence was tabled at the end of the meeting.

Fr. Hayward's future at the Anglican church in Smith's has been thrown into doubt once again after parishioners decided not to vote on the motion.

It is unclear what will happen to the motion next, but the rebels are unlikely to give up their campaign to oust Fr. Hayward.

Last year, around 90 of the 200-plus of the parish roll signed a petition protesting at his appointment.

They boycotted the church in protest, claiming he did not meet the criteria set out by the church and alleging his appointment was not handled with the usual openness.

They said the church was looking for an experienced parish priest who is married. Fr. Hayward is single.

Rebels renew fight against rector The group went as far as appealing to leader of the Anglican Church, the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. George Carey, to ask him to revoke the appointment by the Bishop of Bermuda, the Rt. Rev. Ewen Ratteray.

The appeal failed, but the campaign against Fr. Hayward is set to resume again following the election of five opponents to the 12 person vestry. It is unclear if opponents or supporters of Fr. Hayward are in the majority.

One of those elected to the vestry on Sunday was one of the leaders of the boycott, Alfred Spearing, who has only resumed attending services at St.

Mark's very recently. Mr. Spearing refused to comment last night.

One parishioner who attended Sunday's AGM, told The Royal Gazette : "There was no doubt at all that people who left the church because they did not like the rector made a concerted effort to get their members in the vestry without making any particular promises to return and support the church.

"The atmosphere was very unhappy and there was a lot of tension in the air.

The only way they can get rid of him is to make his life so miserable that he resigns.'' Another who attended the meeting, said the motion of no confidence in Fr.

Hayward was proposed and seconded at the end of the meeting, but not voted on.

Last night Fr. Hayward told The Royal Gazette : "I have been advised not to comment one way or the other.'' Parishioner William S. Zuill said: "From the section of the meeting I attended, I am deeply concerned that people who had decided not to attend St.

Mark's came to a decision that they should return and attend and take over and become involved in the government of the church without necessarily being involved in church life.

"It made me think quite a bit of Balkan politics,'' he added.