A CHURCH refused to host a Royal British Legion Remembrance Day service because the charity’s chaplain is a woman.

Since 1980 the Legion’s Remembrance Day services have been held at St Mary The Virgin Parish Church in St Mary’s Road, Swanley, because it is next to the town’s war memorial.

But this year the Swanley, Crockenhill and Hextable branch was turned away because it had appointed a female chaplain and the C of E church’s congregation does not accept female priests.

As a result, the service had to be held across the road at Swanley Banqueting’s Alexandra Suite.

Geoff Lees, vice chairman of the Swanley, Crockenhill and Hextable Royal British Legion, said: “Obviously we would have liked to have carried on the long tradition of St Mary’s.

“But because it was not viable we had to look at an alternative option, and the Alexandra Suite was our next best option.

“Linda Green was a firm favourite (to conduct the service) from every aspect.

“It went very well, it was our first time in there and it was absolutely packed.”

St Mary’s church is in the geographical area covered by the Diocese of Rochester, but decisions on its policy are made by the Bishop of Fulham.

The Bishop is a provincial episcopal visitor, meaning he is assigned to parishes who do not accept women priests.

A spokeswoman for the diocese said: “St Mary The Virgin, Swanley, is under the alternate episcopal oversight of the Bishop of Fulham.

“St Mary’s congregation does not accept women priests. This is the legal position and is well-documented.

“Therefore, it would not be appropriate for a woman to exercise her priestly ministry there.”

As a result of St Mary’s decision, Swanley Town Council withdrew the church’s £1,000 annual grant, which is spent on maintenance in the church and its grounds.

Council leader Councillor Robert Woodbridge said: “My view is we now live in the 21st century and things have changed.

“But they will point out there are things in the bible which says women should not be priests, but it’s a matter for the church.”

Reverend Michael Fanstone, senior minister at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Windmill Street, Gravesend, says he would welcome a remembrance service held by a female chaplin.

He said: “I do not want to comment on whether a particular church is right or wrong, but gender is not an issue within our church.”

For around 20 years, the Legion’s remembrance services had been done by The Reverend Richard Wells, but he retired in July last year.

Vicar of St Mary’s Church, Father James Mowbray, was asked to take last year’s service as the Legion had not yet appointed Rev Wells’s replacement.