A PARISH in south London has split over the introduction of blessings for same-sex couples: one priest has left the Church of England, while the other remains, supported by the organisation the Alliance.

On Wednesday, the Vicar of Christ Church, Surbiton Hill, the Revd John Shepherd, told the Church Times that about half of the congregation of a daughter church, Emmanuel Church, Tolworth, had opted to join a new church-plant.

The Associate Vicar who led the church, the Revd Bart Erlebach, resigned from the C of E in August, and will lead a new church in conjunction with a local independent church and the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC).

Christ Church, and Emmanuel Church, Tolworth, have a shared PCC, and the majority of the Emmanuel members on the body were in favour of leaving the C of E, Mr Shepherd said.

There were, though, a “good number” of the congregation who were staying at the parish and continuing the witness of the church, he said, which would celebrate the 90th anniversary of its establishment next year.

Mr Erlebach told the Church Times that he “could not in conscience remain under the authority of the Bishops when they agreed to the use of the Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF). It was a difficult and painful realisation.”

He said that the opportunity to plant an independent church “represents not only a way for those from Emmanuel who wanted to leave the Church of England to do so, but also a great mission opportunity, as we will be planting into an area where there are no churches meeting”.

Mr Shepherd said that he had “much sympathy” with Mr Erlebach. “I share many of the same concerns about the PLF process and trajectory of the Church of England that the Bishops have led us in,” he said.

The two priests had, though, “taken different conscience decisions about our place in the Church of England, and have chosen to try and model a respect and love for one another, and encouraged those at Emmanuel to do the same, as some choose to leave and others to stay”, Mr Shepherd said.

He said that he had chosen to remain in the C of E, along with a “good number” of the congregation at Emmanuel, but has signed up as a member of Alliance: an organisation that has emerged in opposition to the introduction of blessings for same-sex couples as a result of the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process.

Mr Erlebach said that he respected those who were staying in the C of E, and supported the work of the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC), but felt that the steps that it had taken to establish a de facto “parallel province” were “not sufficient for me, as by necessity it would mean remaining in my current province and under my current Bishops”.

A spokesperson for the diocese of Southwark said that the diocesan Bishop, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, had “accepted Bart’s resignation with some sadness after it was tendered in August this year.

“We recognise and respect that Bart is responding with integrity to his theological convictions, and as a Diocese we remain committed to speaking well of each other where convictions differ. Bart leaves his role with assurance of our prayers and good wishes, and gratitude for the 15 years he has served the community of faith at Emmanuel, Tolworth.

“We will, together with the incumbent of the parish, support and work with those members of the congregation who have chosen to remain, as they continue to serve God in Tolworth.”