Call by South Bersted priest for church to reflect wider world

A call for the Church of England to reflect the wider world in order to survive has been made by the retiring South Bersted parish priest.

The Rev David Thornley leaves St Mary Magdalene Church on August 31.

His final service will end 16 years there out of 29 years of being a vicar.

His departure comes as the CoE faces serious divisions about issues such as gay priests and women bishops.

The conflict within the church has overshadowed other aspects of its work in recent months.

Mr Thornley said he feared the constant looking inward was taking the church's vision away from its role in the wider community.

"If the church is going to survive, it has to be more interested in what is going on around it. Whatever one's views, you have to ask if the people who are creating these tensions are doing God's work," he explained.

"Or are they allowing themselves to be caught up with an issue that does not need to be one.

"I certainly would not have any problem with women bishops but I certainly understand the feelings of those who find it hard to think of a bishop who is co-habiting with another person of the same sex."