AT first, the most unchristian affair at St James's Church in Wetherby read like an episode of the Vicar of Dibley. The Rev Philip Evans' objections to his choirmaster "living in sin" caused the sort of uproar among parishioners that the Dawn French sitcom affectionately lampoons.

It quickly became apparent that those involved believed the matter was of the utmost gravity, however. The squabble escalated out of all proportion.

Choirmaster Stephen Hartley resigned, claiming he was forced out. Church wardens quit in support. Members of the choir fled practice in floods of tears.

At one Sunday service, the police were called after a parishioner interrupted proceedings to decry Mr Hartley's treatment. The vicar was signed off sick with exhaustion, and received alleged death threats.

Now the row has culminated with the vicar's decision to leave St James's. Predictably, some parishioners condemned the news, others applauded it.

Christian values appear to have been too easily forgotten during this unpleasant wrangle. The Church's teachings on love and tolerance were abandoned in a flurry of bitter claims and counter claims.

It is a shame Mr Evans' discomfort at his choirmaster's personal circumstances could not have been handled diplomatically. The treatment of Mr Hartley, after 30 years of dedicated service, was abrupt, to say the least.

Forcing someone out because they were "living in sin" will strike most people as an unfortunately exclusive act. It certainly suggests that this is a narrow Church, and one that is likely to get narrower still if it continues to condemn modern social trends in such antiquated terms.

However, that does not excuse those who have waged what the Bishop of Knaresborough called a "campaign of personal criticism against the vicar".

We must hope that the wounds can now begin to heal. But the extent of the discord suggests that it will be some time before the congregation is singing once more from the same hymn sheet.