The Anglican Church's top cleric could be caught up in a row over the appointment of a controversial priest to a Bermuda parish, The Royal Gazette has learned.

Rebel churchgoers at St. Mark's in Smith's Parish are considering an appeal to the Archbishop of Canterbury in London to unseat new Rector Fr. William Hayward.

It is also believed that the St. Mark's Church choir will boycott Sunday's ceremony in protest of the appointment.

And the rebels -- who went public for the first time yesterday -- warned the church could lose at least half its regular congregation if Fr. Hayward is installed by Bishop Ewen Ratteray on Sunday.

Unholy war erupts: Rebels may take fight to Archbishop of Canterbury One of the `group of five' -- parish veteran Alfred Spearing -- said: "There is the recourse of going to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

"That would be the last resort -- and it's still out there. It could come to that.'' The group also includes former Government Ministers C.V. (Jim) Woolridge and Leonard Gibbons, Julie Masters and Hilton Tucker -- all with between 20 and 60 years as church members.

It is understood that Anglican law allows churches in the worldwide communion to appeal to a committee of Anglican bishops in England -- with the final decision resting with the Primate of England Dr. George Carey.

The fresh twist in the long-running row came only four days before Bishop Ratteray is due to officially induct Fr. Hayward into his new parish.

The rebels organised a petition which attracted around 90 names from the around 165 people thought to be regular attendees at St. Mark's, which has an official roll of 210.

And Mr. Spearing warned the controversy had already split the congregation -- even individual families -- and a mass desertion from the pews would take place if Bishop Ratteray insisted on Fr. Hayward as Rector.

Mr. Spearing predicted: "People will leave the church in droves -- and I'm going to be one of them. I will no longer attend and I will not contribute.'' But he insisted the anti-Hayward challenge had nothing against the priest -- who has been filling in at the church for months -- but insisted he did not meet the needs of the congregation.

He said that the original adverts had called for an "experienced parish priest.'' Mr. Spearing added: "That suggests they want someone who has had a parish -- Fr. Hayward hasn't had experience as a parish priest. He's helped out in parishes.'' And he said that the congregation -- in line with tradition -- had specified a married priest with a wife who would share in the work of the parish. Fr.

Hayward is single.

He was however, approved by the church vestry in a two-horse race and backed by the Bishop -- as well as other parishioners who spoke up in his defence.

Mr. Spearing admitted that the search process may have been according to the rules -- but did not follow the open system used in previous hunts for a parish priest.

And he said: "It appears that the criteria have been orchestrated to make them fit Reverend Hayward.'' He said the search committee for the previous Rector had done video interviews overseas and brought candidates to the Island to take services and meet members of the church.

But he added: "At no time did the vestry ever come to the congregation and say that they were down to two names. The vestry never came to the congregation with any information.

"When it was announced, everybody was stunned. After that, this group decided to get together and approach the Bishop. We don't feel the proper procedure was followed.'' And he dismissed statements by supporters that anti-Hayward protestors were a minority and that many were not regular attenders.

He slammed ex-church warden Junior Dunstan's claims that the petition against Fr. Hayward had misled people and "a lot'' petitioners had later asked for their names to be taken off. He also dismissed insiders' claims that the church choir had started the row.

Mr. Spearing said: "One person -- and 86-year-old man -- asked for his name to be removed... "Not everyone attends St. Mark's regularly -- but most do.

This is a very broad cross-section of people and those people have an emotional attachment to St. Mark's.

"Where 90 people of a group of possibly 160 sign a petition, it's not to be taken lightly.'' Under fire: Bishop Ewen Ratteray APPOINTMENT APP