Residents and campaigners are urging a church vicar to scrap proposals to allow a mobile phone mast to be placed on his church roof, following claims that the technology carried by the mast could potentially broadcast pornography.
Father Bruce Bridgewood of St Peter Le Poer Church, Muswell Hill in London, has received complaints from residents and campaigners who morally object to the mast being allowed on the holy building.
A demonstration by about 50 protesters was staged outside the church prior to the Sunday service and a petition containing 850 signatures has already been handed to the church vicar.
Churches have been a criticised by many as a potential place for mobile phone masts, and these objections amplified after the Chancellor of the Diocese of Chelmsford refused permission to put a mast in a church in Chingford, Essex, on the grounds that it could be used to deliver "revolting and damaging pornographic" material.
The Church of England currently uses the communications firm QS4 to controversially install mobile phone equipment. The firm is now preparing an appeal against the decision by the Diocese of Chelmsford to reject its mast.
The stance taken by the Chingford church has offered hope to campaigners, who are now urging the Chancellor of the Diocese of London to follow the same ruling for the Muswell Hill church.
Local Councillor Kate Salinger, a churchgoer, said: "There is no way that the church should be involved with anything to do with pornography.
"I think that the Chancellor is doing what I consider the church should be doing on this issue. If a church is installing this equipment, which it will make money from, which could then be used to transmit disgusting material, well then it is just not right."
Father Bruce Bridgewood disagreed with the objections, saying: "It is rather like saying we should not have PCs because some people use them to download child pornography. It seems like it is that sort of argument. The argument is true as far as it goes, but I don't think my personal opinion really matters on this."
Father Bridgewood also questioned the strength of the petition, according to local news source, Muswell Hill Journal 24. The vicar claimed that, after analysis, many names were duplicated or did not live in the area.
He added that the church's parish council had been guided by the Church of England's policies on mobile phone masts.
Explaining the reason behind the decision, he said, "This is an opportunity to raise money for the church, which is the only reason we are doing it. We can't run a church on fresh air."
