priest yesterday came close to accusing the new Rector of heresy.

Suzann Holshouser -- TV weatherwoman and member of the St. Mark's congregation -- said it was wrong for Father William Hayward to suggest during Bible class that God could make a mistake and to claim in a sermon that a priest became "equal to God'' at one point in the mass.

Ms Holshouser also accused Fr. William Hayward of inexperience in a sermon directed towards youngsters.

Ms Holshouser said that Fr. Hayward had preached in January to a regular service and shocked her and other church members.

She added: "The sermon was explaining the garments worn by the clergy and indeed was quite interesting until he told us that at a particular point in the service, a `minister becomes equal to God'.

"I must admit I made a loud gasp and was elbowed by a member in the choir to keep quiet.'' But she said the final straw was during a Bible class on women in the Old Testament -- when Fr. Hayward allegedly said that it was his belief that `God made a mistake'.

Ms Holshouser added that Fr. Hayward had said that God had not expected Eve to eat the Garden of Eden's forbidden fruit so early -- and that he had "made a mistake.'' And she added that a sermon to children -- which concentrated on "a message of death, doom and the ending of the world...'' -- was not appropriate for youngsters.

Ms Holshouser said: "It is not difficult to create a world of wonder and interest in Jesus, in God or the teachings of the Bible, but this Sunday we saw inexperience in what is believed to be an experienced minister of God.'' The claims came in a letter to Anglican Bishop Ewen Ratteray, copied to The Royal Gazette .

Ms Holshouser wrote: "I am aware that the above is all personal, but a church is personal.. .'' She added: "Please listen to the silent plea of the congregation and do not split up our happy home.

"We are a family who would like to be kept together in one church, the church of St. Mark's.

Fr. Hayward is due to be formally inducted into the job at a special service on Sunday -- and Bishop Ratteray has already said he will not bow to pressure to dump him.

Fr. Hayward was selected by the vestry and backed by the Bishop -- but a group in the congregation organised a protest petition to try and change the hierarchy's mind.

Protesters insist that the selection process was not open enough and that Fr.

Hayward lacked the necessary experience, as well as a wife, traditionally seen as a must in St. Mark's, who can share the burden of parish work. Other parishioners, however, have backed the appointment of Fr. Hayward.