A REBEL vicar at the centre of a gay sex row has vowed to stay put when his licence ends next January.

Rev Charles Raven, of St John's Church, Kidderm-inster, said members of a controversial trust he has established are backing his move to remain with the congregation when his term ends.

However, Worcester Dio-cese has stressed he will cease to be a Church of England vicar and will have no function in the diocese.

Mr Raven's contract finishes on January 31. It cannot legally be renewed by the diocese as he has served the maximum seven years plus three-year renewal period.

He set up the Forerunner Trust as an alternative means of funding the church as part of his long-running opposition to the Bishop of Worcester's support of homosexuals.

But his team rector Rev Harold Goddard has warned St John's congregation the fund could finance a move by Mr Raven and some parishioners to establish an alternative church.

Mr Raven poured scorn on the claims and stressed he was planning to stay with the congregation.

He said: "Nothing surprises me about the diocese now. The only thing which would surprise me is if they renewed my licence!

"I shall continue no matter how irregular they think it is because we have a Bishop who is clearly failing to uphold the Biblical teaching on sexuality. My first duty is to the people I look after and that will continue."

He added: "It has been clear from the start the trust is to support the ministry and congregation of St John's and I have no desire to leave the Church of England.

"To suggest I plan to set up a church somewhere other than Kidderminster is completely ungrounded."

However, the diocese stressed from February next year Mr Raven will not be able to conduct weddings, funerals, preside at the Eucharist, preach or carry out priestly functions in any church in the diocese.

He will cease to be paid and will have no right to live at the vicarage.

Mr Goddard warned: "There is nothing in the trust deed of the Forerunner Trust which means money raised has to stay at St John's.

"When Charles Raven moves next year, if trustees and congregation members move with him, then the trust funds need not be used for the furtherance of the future work of St John's and the congregation which faithfully remains there."

The trust has already announced it will pay for the housing of team curate Rev Kelvin Shilvock when his contract runs out next month.

Mr Goddard said it would cost £31,500 a year to fund Mr Raven.

Mr Goddard, who will assume pastoral and spiritual responsibility for the church before a new vicar is appointed, said: "During the interregnum there we will be working for peace and reconciliation within the community whilst we search for a new team vicar who will be able to unite the parishioners and heal the divisions which have arisen during the 10 years of Mr Raven's ministry."