To the embarrassment of the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Rev Christopher Herbert, a leading protester is Philip Lovegrove, the chairman of the diocesan board of finance and an honorary canon.

It is understood that he and another honorary canon, the Rev Nicholas
Bell, the vicar of St Mary's church in Luton, are considering their
positions at the cathedral.

In a statement, the evangelicals said the appointment was "a serious error of judgment", given appeals by Church leaders for restraint on the issue of homosexuality until the Lambeth Commission reports later this year.

"Furthermore, we are aggrieved that the diocesan bishop, who has also
called on people not to take precipitate action, should have agreed to the appointment, thus creating division within the diocese and the wider
Anglican Communion."

The statement said the views of Dr John were contrary to Scripture and
concluded: "We respectfully request that the appointment be withdrawn."

A number of clergy are already considering whether to bar the bishop from their parishes or to cap their quotas, the "tax" paid to central diocesan funds.

Anglican Mainstream, a national evangelical pressure group, last week
called for a meeting with Tony Blair to express their anger. The post of
dean is in the gift of Downing Street.

But the protests are not expected to reach the intensity that followed Dr
John's nomination for Reading last summer because deans rank lower than bishops.

Bishop Herbert said he would be happy to meet clergy concerned about the new dean later this month.

END