St Marks's refuses baptism

They claim their request was turned down by Rev Jonathan Frais of St Mark's church and were told '“ you are not welcome here.

The new mum said: "We were refused the christening because we are not married. We have been discriminated against.

"We are totally amazed this has happened in this day and age.

"I asked the reverend '“ what if you are a single mother?

"He said '“ we would put a blessing on your household and accept you as you are. But if you are not married you are not welcome here.

"Surely they accept everybody? That is what I've been led to believe. I find it really odd to be told under no circumstance unless you are married would we consider it."

St Mark's was the centre of recent controversy and widespread debate when Rev Frais banned a tai chi class from the newly built church hall because it was "inappropriate on a Christian premises."

This week he confirmed that he had refused the christening and commented: "I said that the best thing we can do for the child is to encourage the parents to have exchanged their public promise before we allow them to make promises on behalf of the child.

"I always encourage that to come first."

He continued: "She put me on the spot and said '“ what would you do for a single mum?

"I said we have to take people as we find them. For the child if the man is around we want to encourage marriage...we very much encourage that."

He said that the tai chi issue was something he came to "quite late in the day" and described the practice of it as an expression of "a different philosophy".

He added: "The baptism is something I was trained in and always practise in the Church of England.

"I encourage parents to be, in word and indeed example, of Godly conduct.

"I have always encourage marriage to come before baptism wherever possible."