Bermuda's Anglican clergy have confronted their Bishop over his controversial handling of a recent church appointment, The Royal Gazette has learned.

"The senior clergy feel the Bishop has got to go,'' said a source with intimate knowledge of a Wednesday meeting between Bishop William Down and the three senior clergymen said yesterday.

The source said the clergymen are angry enough to take the matter to the Archbishop of Canterbury if they have to.

"While they don't question his authority, they are concerned about his leadership style and may place the issue before the Archbishop, who in fact appointed this Bishop.'' Canon Thomas Nesbitt of Christ Church, Devonshire confirmed yesterday that he attended the meeting with Canon Arnold Hollis of St. James' Church in Sandys, Canon James Francis of the Anglican Cathedral and outgoing Archdeacon Thomas Dyson.

Bishop Down announced this week that Archdeacon Dyson would be replaced on his retirement in September by the Rev. Ewen Ratteray of St. John's Church, Pembroke.

According to Canon Nesbitt, senior clergymen were "unhappy'' with the unexpectedness of the announcement, the lack of consultation with senior priests and the fact that the "least senior'' member of the Island's Bermudian Anglican clergy was ultimately chosen.

"They deplored the manner in which the Bishop handled the entire matter,'' said the source, who added that the clergymen held nothing against Mr.

Ratteray personally.

"They felt that a Bishop would have thought enough of his senior clergy, who are in fact his right-hand men, to share his views in a spirit of openness.'' Citing church regulations, Bishop Down told The Royal Gazette he does not have to justify his decision because it is his alone to make.

"The constitution of the diocese allows for the appointment of the Archdeacon to be made by the Bishop,'' he said. "I picked the person I felt was most suitable for the job.'' That is as much as the Bishop is willing to go publicly, according to the Diocese press officer, Mr. Charles Webbe.

"I've had a number of discussions with the Bishop over this matter, but he has elected not to take my advice and give his reasons for this appointment,'' he said.

Canon Nesbitt said: "We wonder what criteria he used (to make his choice).'' Asked if the clergymen were prepared to force the issue by taking it to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Anglican Church's highest authority, Canon Nesbitt said: "We haven't got that far yet. If it has to, I suppose we will.''