A bitter revolt is expected to embroil the AME church in Bermuda following a row over ousted Pastor the Reverend Christopher Haynes, The Royal Gazette was told last night.

Sources deep within the church said morale was at an all-time low and a number of members, including some clergy, were set to ask for the removal or resignation of presiding Elder, the Rev. Malcolm Eve.

Many in the church blame Rev. Eve for the imminent departure of Rev Haynes, who will be forced to leave the Island at the end of this month after Immigration failed to renew his work permit.

The Royal Gazette understands that the Bermuda conference of the AME church, which is headed by Rev. Eve, failed to apply for a new work permit for Rev. Haynes when it ran out in September last year, meaning he had been working on the Island illegally.

When the application was finally submitted earlier this year, Immigration ruled against a renewal and the church failed to appeal the decision.

When Rev. Haynes appealed to Cabinet, his request was dismissed.

As a result Rev. Haynes, who has been pastor of Mount Zion AME Church in Southampton for four years and originally hails from Jamaica, will have to leave Bermuda with his wife and family on August 30. As of yet, Rev. Haynes has still not been given another posting.

It has been rumoured that one possible replacement at Mount Zion is former PLP backbencher and Pastor, Trevor Woolridge, who held the post before Rev. Haynes. Rev. Woolridge is presently based at a New Jersey church.

Rev. Haynes has lived on the Island for 19 years and was due to apply for his long-term residency status next year.

Yesterday, a source within the church said: "Morale among the clergy and the laities appears to be at an all-time low.

"Morale is low because of Rev. Eve's leadership. I'm made to understand there may be a call for Rev. Eve to resign next week, or for the Bishop to remove him. That arises out of the sense of malaise. Utterances have been made already within the church, and it's a common sentiment that has been bandied about."

Rev. Eve supervises the AME churches on the Island in the absence of Bishop Zedekiah Grady, who is head of the First Episcopal District, which includes some US states and Bermuda.

But the source said many believed more could have been done by the church to assist Rev. Haynes, and some feel personal issues had been bubbling within the ranks for some time.

The source added: "The way things have turned out is very sad. In the eyes of the church, Rev. Haynes' character was above and beyond reproach.

"But now, there is virtually nothing that can be done for Rev. Haynes. He must leave. I believe this is a situation that is not from Rev. Haynes' own making. He is truly a victim."

Duane Santucci, an AME follower, said he had known Rev. Haynes for more than eight years and fully supported him.

He said; "This whole situation has been handled badly. I am calling for the resignation of Rev. Malcolm Eve and I think the Bishop needs to step in.

"Some people have blamed Immigration for what happened, but the department had its hands tied.

"This was very much a church issue, and I believe the church was to blame."

Rev. Eve failed to return a number of calls by The Royal Gazette yesterday, and Bishop Grady was not available as he was away on church business.