St. Paul's Church in Paget is having to borrow vicars to handle services after its choice for new minister ran into immigration problems.

The church wanted to have Canadian the Rev. Brian Porter but was told by Immigration they would have to interview Carl Williams who is married to a Bermudian.

Home Affairs Minister Terry Lister said: "The Bishop is in the process of trying to sort the matter out."

Yesterday former minister John Deal, an American, completed a stint at St. Paul's as his temporary work permit ran out.

Now the church will borrow St. Mary's Church, Warwick Rector the Rev. Andrew Doughty for the 9.15 service and Holy Trinity Church, Hamilton Parish Rector Canon Alan Tilson for the 8 a.m. service.

Mr. Lister said Bishop Ewan Ratteray had also failed to get a work permit for an appointment at an East End church, believed to be Chapel of Ease. The Bishop refused to answer questions from The Royal Gazette.

But Mr. Lister said: "At this point we have not granted any work permit to either churches. We are relying on the Bishop to finalise the candidates.

"He has to justify who he wishes to put before us."

He said local candidates had not been interviewed before the application for work permits had been put in.

"As far as I am concerned we just wanted to make sure available local candidates have been interviewed."

One congregation member of St. Paul's said: "Mr. Lister is right. The Bishop has to sort it out."