CHURCH congregation members serenaded shoppers to show their support for suspended priest the Rev Andrew Hawthorne.

Members of St George’s Church in Jumpers held a demonstration in Saxon Square to object to the ‘unchristian’ treatment meted to their much-loved vicar.

Mr Hawthorne was placed on gardening leave around 18 months ago and has now been formally suspended amid claims of financial discrepancy.

Yesterday, upset church members made a public appeal for him to be reinstated, singing supportive hymns and asking passers-by to sign their petition.

They claim they have been kept in the dark by the Diocese of Winchester and say they feel let down by the church authorities.

Jill Barr, who has worshipped at the church for 17 years, said: “They (the Diocese of Winchester) just issued a blanket statement saying there’s a procedure going ahead, don’t ask questions, don’t interfere.”

Sheila Skellon, 81, said the numbers attending church had plummeted since Mr Hawthorne was removed. “We feel that he has not been given a fair crack of the whip. He knows that we are all supporting him but we are just a voice crying in the wilderness.

“I’ve got faith in God but I can’t say I have any faith in his minions here on earth.”

Jan Clyde, 76, a parishioner for 10 years, said Mr Hawthorne had been a tremendous support when she lost her husband.

“You can’t tell me the Diocese is behaving in a Christian way,” she said. “Father Andrew and his family have done more for the church than anyone I’ve known. He puts his whole heart and soul into the job.”

Diocesan spokesman Nick Edmonds said: “It’s good that people want to support Dr Hawthorne, and we appreciate that it is difficult in these situations to give people as much information as they would like.”

He said the Bishop had written to the parish immediately after Dr Hawthorne’s suspension to explain the situation.

He added: “Statutory proc-esses are in place to protect all concerned, and these can take a long time. This is because it is crucial to make sure things are done correctly. It is only at the end of the process that it becomes possible to provide greater explanation.

“We understand how difficult these processes are for all concerned.”