A fiance came to the rescue of his bride-to-be as a man attacked her and a vicar inside a church.

Ms Stephanie Hill was with her fiance, Mr. Henry Adderley, and the Rev.

Anthony Hollis as they walked into the unfinished church in St. George's, where they plan to marry.

As Rev. Hollis walked through the door he suddenly fell onto one knee after being hit on the back of the head with a pouch filled with rocks.

The attacker then went for Ms Hill and hit her on the back with the pouch. Mr.

Adderley grabbed him, but was unable to keep hold and the man fled.

Mr. Adderley, 26, a reporter for The Royal Gazette , and Ms Hill, 30, plan to marry in the church next month and were there Monday evening at around 7.40 p.m. to look around before it got dark.

Yesterday Mr. Adderley said: "As the Vicar went through a narrow gap into the church he went down on one knee. I couldn't see what happened and thought that he might have slipped.

"Then a man came into sight from the right and struck Stephanie with something he was holding in his right hand.'' Police were alerted and a bag was discovered inside the church containing a passport and driver's licence belonging to the attacker.

"The vicar had a cut on the side of his head and his glasses had been broken and Stephanie's shoulder was bruised where the man had hit her with the pouch,'' added Mr. Adderley.

Shortly after the attack the skipper of a visiting yacht came back to his ship, anchored in St. George's harbour, and found an intruder on board. He managed to tackle the person and summoned Police help through Harbour Radio.

Police said a 32-year-old man was arrested and said the same man was suspected of carrying out the earlier assault.

Last night Rev. Hollis, who lives close to the church, said: "I went over as he hit me, but also went for him . .. The man went for Stephanie at which point Henry went for him. I thought at first that part of the masonry had fallen on me, then I realised there was a person in front of me. I didn't believe it was happening.'' He added: "I spent 25 years in the army and no-one ever did that to me, even in a war zone. I was glad Henry was there.''