A CHURCH of England priest sacked for saying he did not believe in a

supernatural God bid an emotional farewell to his congregation yesterday

at his last service.

In a passionate sermon at Matins at St Mark's in Staplefield, West

Sussex, the Rev. Anthony Freeman defended his views and said he

regretted only that he had alienated some of the parish's worshippers.

The wooden pews of the small ninteenth-century church were filled to

overflowing, mostly with Mr Freeman's supporters and friends, some of

whom were in tears during the 90-minute service.

Mr Freeman was dismissed from his job as priest-in-charge of St Mark's

after publishing a book in which he wrote: ''There is nothing out there

-- or if there is, we can have no knowledge of it.''

The Bishop of Chichester, Dr Eric Kemp, is revoking Mr Freeman's

licence to practise as a priest in the diocese on the grounds that his

unorthodox humanist views are ''incompatible with the job''.

During his sermon, Mr Freeman emphasised he did not believe in God as

''a person'' but as a figure whose ''mercy and grace are mediated

through human beings''.

Mr Freeman added: ''I am not an atheist -- that is nonsense. I have

proclaimed I believe in God.''

He insisted he had remained loyal to the Church of England and,

drawing parallels between himself and persecuted Old Testament prophet

Jeremiah, he joked: ''At least no-one has put out a warrant for my

arrest.''

He said he had drawn attention to difficulties that ''many find in the

popular view of God''.

At the end of the service, which was traditional despite Mr Freeman's

avant-garde views, many of the congregation embraced him as they left.

Church Warden Mike Tuckwell said: ''He has been a great parish priest

and has worked wonderfully hard in the community in the five years he

has been here. He will be difficult to replace but we must look forward

now.''

Supporter and friend Canon Michael Butler of the Chichester diocese

said it was a sad day but, in the end, the Bishop had no choice but to

dismiss Mr Freeman.

''As a parish priest, there are always people who like or dislike you

in your congregation. It is unfortunate it had to come to this,'' he

said.

Mr Freeman, 48, who is looking for another parish, has been given a

house by a wellwisher in Oxfordshire.