Controversial priest Carl Williams is pushing to be appointed at another church after being axed from St. Anne's Anglican Church in Southampton.

Father Williams — who is thought to have upset parishioners with his strong views — claims to have been wrongfully dismissed and that his human rights have been infringed.

Consultant Julian Hall, speaking to The Royal Gazette on Father Williams' behalf, said the priest hopes that under new Bishop Patrick White he will be given a post elsewhere on the Island.

"He's committed no wrongdoing; he's been found guilty of no wrongdoing; he's fully qualified. He needs to have his experience and training respected by the organisation.

"One hopes that now a new bishop is appointed good sense will prevail," said Mr. Hall.

Father Williams was told by attorneys that he was sacked this summer, roughly a year after being appointed Priest in Charge at St. Anne's.

It followed a major row with parishioners who, according to a report in the Bermuda Sun early in 2008, took issue with his "autocratic management style".

Asked why people had not liked Father Williams, Mr. Hall replied: "He's a wonderful and likeable fellow. It's not true to say that they all didn't like him.

"As to allegations of being autocratic, I know very few leaders anywhere who haven't occasionally found at least some of their followers accusing them of that.

He doesn't strike me as a particularly outspoken person. That's just me.

"I think he has very clear views about the way in which ... I don't want to go there ... he holds very clear views."

Mr. Hall said Father Williams felt let down by then Bishop Ewen Ratteray, who appointed him to St. Anne's.

The lawyer said: "He was very, very disappointed by the feeling that he got of being abandoned by the former bishop, and left twisting in the wind without real support.

"There were past difficulties with previous priests at that particular branch. He was sent there on the basis that he himself might encounter similar levels of rebellion.

"He found that when faced with difficulties he didn't receive the quality of support that he justifiably expected from the bishop."

Responding to this claim yesterday, Bishop Ratteray said: "Absolutely untrue. That's all I will say to that. I gave him as much support as I could possibly give."

The former bishop declined to comment further on the row.

Father Williams was born in Barbados but now has Bermuda status through marriage. He had been working in Trinidad as an assistant priest for six years and returned to Bermuda in 2007.

A Bishop's Court hearing was set up earlier this year over the matter, but that is said to have been aborted before a finding was made.

Mr. Hall said he would be fighting for Father Williams' right to work, explaining: "I have clear instructions from him to continue to pursue his rights.

"He will be very shortly applying, probably through me, to the church on a formal basis in order to pursue remedies and redress for himself. His main concern is to secure a position somewhere within the Bermudian diocese.

"There's hope that these problems which are being experienced will be resolved in a Christian manner.

"There's a human side to this. He's a family man, a Christian, a Bermudian. The church has a responsibility which it clearly can't shirk.

"He's a very strong man. He's generally a man who believes in and relies on the power of God. I think his faith will serve him well."

The Anglican Church is advertising for a new Priest in Charge at St. Anne's. Archdeacon Andrew Doughty, the contact point in the advert, is off the Island. St. Anne's church did not reply to a phone call at press time yesterday.