Crisis talks have failed to stop Bishop Ewan Ratteray axing popular priest Alan Tilson.

On Monday night a delegation of concerned church goers lobbied The Bishop but Vestry member Miles Outerbridge said the Bishop was unmoved and had failed to explain why Canon Tilson was being singled out.

He said: “That was the frustrating thing. The Bishop stuck to his view and didn't elaborate on it.”

Canon Tilson's, an Irishman who is credited with building a vibrant church at Holy Trinity in Hamilton Parish, is set to leave in the summer after the Bishop refused to renew his work permit.

Mr. Outerbridge said it was unfair on Canon Tilson as people would unfairly speculate he had done something wrong which might affect his future career.

“How does he explain the fact that he's been pushed out? You don't normally get pushed out because you have done a good job.

“We tried to find out if there was another motive, the Bishop said there was no other motive but he's got this idea that for some reason Hamilton parish needs a change.”

Last night Bishop Ratteray stuck to that line and he refused to say why only Hamilton Parish was being forced to lose their priest.

He told The Royal Gazette that Canon Tilson would leave this summer.