“Town’s Priesthood Rules Clash with Vicar of Dibley’s Legacy for Women”

A TOWN has ruled against a woman becoming its next priest — despite once being home to TV’s Vicar of Dibley.

Dawn French, 65, who played Rev Geraldine Granger in the BBC sitcom, used to live in Fowey, Cornwall.

A town has ruled against a woman becoming its next priest — despite once being home to TV’s Vicar of DibleyCredit: BBC

Fowey Parochial Church Council in Cornwall has now agreed a man should run the parish overallCredit: BPM

Its church, St Fimbarrus, has not had a vicar for four years — and some congregation members said they would quit unless it was run by a male.

Fowey Parochial Church Council has now agreed a man should run the parish overall.

One local said: “Oh the irony. So Dawn French lived here, she played a female vicar, which is not good enough for her former home.”

Another called those behind the move “a handful of superstitious sexists”.

But others defended it saying: “Refusing it on grounds of theological basis is not sexist.”

The PCC said: “The Bible is very clear on equality — all are equal.

“There is, however, debate over the roles women play within the church.

“The church council has agreed a compromise position where we will both welcome women priests to teach the Bible faithfully each Sunday and lead communion, but seek an overall male priest in charge.

“We robustly defend that this position is not sexist, is widely established in the worldwide church, and accommodates all views in the membership of our church without exclusion.”