A bid to block the appointment of a Bermudian priest to the Anglican parish of St. Mark's has been launched.

And a group of parishioners at the Smith's Parish church have organised a petition -- understood to have gathered at least 100 s ignatures -- in protest at the appointment of Fr. William Hayward to serve the area.

Anglican Bishop Ewen Ratteray -- who confirmed Fr. Hayward to the post -- yesterday declined to discuss the matter.

Bishop Ratteray said: "I'd rather not comment on that. I will neither confirm or deny. He has been confirmed in that position by myself. That's all I can say about it.'' Fr. Hayward was voted in by the vestry of St. Mark's late last year in a two-horse race for the job.

But one parishioner -- who asked not be named -- said: "They don't find him acceptable. He doesn't meet the criteria people are looking for.

"There were a lot of disappointments at the way this was handled from the top.'' The parishioner added: "I don't have any personal gripes with the man at all -- but he just doesn't fit the bill.

Fr. Hayward has been filling in at the parish for several months after Fr.

Robert Thacker left the parish to take up a post in Japan.

In 1997, Fr. Hayward landed at the centre of controversy after a letter -- later found by a court to have defamed him -- was sent to Anglican Archdeacon Arnold Hollis by Pembroke St. John's organist William Duncan.

Mr. Duncan was bound over for a year by Senior Magistrate William Francis after admitting the facts of the case.

Fr. Hayward claimed that the letter -- sent in October, 1996 -- cost him the rectorship of St. John's -- and possibly a church post in Paget.