A member of troubled St. Mark's Church last night claimed that it would no longer be financially viable in a year's time unless steps were taken to solve its mounting problems.

Parishioner Michael Caton, who resigned from the vestry on Tuesday night, said he believed the church would not even be able to meet its bank loan payments next year if members of the congregation continued to leave.

He said those who have remained at the church are no longer contributing to the same degree as in the past, but said the bank balance will continue to fall until steps are taken to remedy issues members have with Rev. William Hayward. Mr. Caton, a life-long member of the Smith's church, said people were leaving the church in search of a different place of worship.

He said: "Annual pledges have gone from $57,000 in March 2001, to $38,000 in March of this year.

"That is pledges for a whole year, April to March.

"I believe that over this coming year it will fall even further. I would estimate that by next year, the church will only be receiving about $19,000 a year. The loan with the bank is more than $20,000, and I don't think the church will even have enough money to meet that."

The Royal Gazette revealed yesterday how at the church's AGM on Tuesday night, no one put themselves forward for either of the two church warden positions, and no one volunteered for a place on the vestry.

The lack of support follows two years of complaints by members of the congregation that Rev. Hayward is not cut out for the Smith's Parish Anglican church.

They have claimed that his sermons are uninspiring, and he is regularly late for mass.

But they have also alleged that he has no ability to deal with the church's finances and debts, and said they would prefer a rector who was married with a family, rather than single.

As a result of the growing problems, which have become very public, Bishop Ewen Ratteray asked members of the vestry against the rector to stand down for at least the next three years, which they have done.

But on Tuesday, nobody put themselves forward to replace them. Rev. Hayward was asked to resign, but when he refused, the AGM was adjourned, to be carried on next Thursday.

Last night, both the Rt. Rev Ratteray and Rev Hayward failed to return calls to The Royal Gazette.

Whether members of the congregation call on the Bishop to now resolve the issues, remains to be seen.

Mr. Caton added: "My personal feeling is that the church is already no longer viable now. Rev. Hayward has no idea what it's all about. Something drastic needs to be done."

Long-time parishioner William Zuill Sr. said he was unable to gauge what will happen with the church next, adding: "I am sure the rector will go off and talk to the Bishop about it. That was suggested at the AGM.

"I would hate to suggest what the Bishop might do. He has been placed, for some time, in the most awkward position and I do feel for him."

And Mr. Zuill, who attended the meeting on Tuesday but also did not put his name forward for a position, said it was very sad for St. Mark's that it had reached this position, particularly as visiting Anglican Bishop Sehon Goodridge of the Winward Islands had been on the Island during recent days as part of a mission on unity.

Mr. Zuill added: "It's a tragedy that Smith's Parish has reached a point when none of us, and I include myself, will come forward and say we would be willing to try and run the church."

And he said he did not believe there were many members of the congregation left who had confidence in Rev. Hayward.

"I think at the meeting, there was a sense of sadness about it and a sense of deep concern about the future of St. Mark's itself," he said.