Immigration threatened a vicar with arrest after he offered to help out a minister-less church.

The Royal Gazette understands Holy Trinity Church Rector Canon Alan Tilson got a phone call at 7 a.m. on Sunday as he prepared to set out to do the early service at St. Paul's Church in Paget.

the non-Bermudian priest was warned two officers were waiting to arrest him if he showed up.

Last night Assistant Chief Immigration Officer Rozy Azhar refused to comment about the matter saying it was not policy to comment on individual cases.

Immigration have already intervened to block the Paget Anglican church's appointment of Canadian the Rev. Brian Porter while the temporary work permit for minister John Diehl, an American, ran out at the end of last month.

The congregation have been served by stand-in vicars including Rev. Andrew Doughty and David Addington from St. Mary's in Warwick. Canon Tilson had been conducting the 8 a.m. service.

Last night Canon Tilson, whose church is in Hamilton Parish, would not comment further on the matter but he confirmed The Royal Gazette'sversion of what had happened to him on Sunday morning.

But one congregation member, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "You have to wonder what would happen if Jesus Christ turned up without a work permit.

"Would he be brought before Pontius Pilate again?

"It seems to me more and more shocking. Not only is the Government attempting to dictate who the church can hire. They are threatening them with arrest.

"It sounds like communist China where you read about priests being imprisoned. I didn't think Bermuda was in that category. It's deplorable."