The Bishop of Bermuda has said Government's threat to arrest a reverend for offering to preach to a minister-less church was reminiscent of Nazi Germany.

On Sunday Canon Alan Tilson got a 7 a.m. phone call saying two officers were waiting to arrest him if he showed up to do the early service at St. Paul's Church in Paget. Yesterday Anglican Bishop the Rt. Rev. Ewan Ratteray, said the incident was "quite unconscionable".

He said: "As the Rector of Holy Trinity in Hamilton, he has my licence to officiate in his parish church as well as in any other Anglican Church in Bermuda as and when a need arises.

"Such a need existed at St. Paul's as they have been without a rector for the past 14 months."

He said Canon Tilson had been asked by St. Paul's warden to handle the 8 a.m. service.

The Bishop said: "That an officer of the Immigration Department, Mrs Andrea Daniels, threatened him with arrest should he carry out the duty he was ordained for was beyond belief.

"He was notified of this dreadful possibility just an hour before the service was due to begin.

"He was told he would be in breach of his work permit if he were to go to St. Paul's and fulfil his priestly calling.

"This was a rather high-handed approach and is reminiscent of that which was common in Nazi Germany.

"I have always believed that Bermuda was a democratic and free society, where it was possible to practice one's faith with utter and complete liberty. Sunday's telephone call to Canon Tilson has changed that perception."

The Bishop called on Government to stop interfering in Church affairs in "such an objectionable manner".

He asked: "Surely it is not the policy of this Government that clergy may only minister within the territorial limits of their parish?

"Does that mean that should a parishioner fall ill, that person may not be visited by their priest in hospital?

"There are lots of other possible scenarios that could be raised which require clergy to minister outside their parishes.

"This has always been the accepted practice of our Church and other churches.

"I would certainly hope that common sense will ultimately prevail so that the Church can fulfil her mission to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ without let or hindrance."

Immigration has refused to comment about the matter saying it was not policy to comment on individual cases and Home Affairs Minister Terry Lister is off the island while Shadow Minister Neletha Butterfield could not be reached for comment.

The Paget church has already been thwarted by immigration when they tried to appoint Canadian the Rev. Brian Porter after not interviewing a local applicant.

The church has been without any rector since the end of last month when the temporary work permit of American John Diehl ran out.

Stand-in vicars including Bermudians the Rev. Andrew Doughty and the Rev. David Addington from St. Mary's in Warwick and Canon Tilson have been filling in.