The minister, who looks after two parishes in the Diocese of Chelmsford, resigned from the Church of England and from his role a school governor. 

In a statement, he aimed to clarify the role the Bishop of Chelmsford, Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell, had in his resignation. 

Rev John said: “For the last few years I have met with the Deanery and with the Bishops of the diocese to express my concerns over the Church of England embracing unbiblical approaches to matters of sexuality and gender.

“To that end I met with Bishops Stephen, Roger and Peter in March 2017 and a further meeting with Bishop Stephen in September 2018.

“Over recent years I, often together with others, have also entered into extensive and sometimes lengthy correspondence (most recently in December 2018), setting out my disquiet to Bishop Stephen.

“In a letter of September 2018, after a meeting with Bishop Stephen, I declared myself to be in broken communion with him; no response was forthcoming.”

He explained that the diocese ‘persisted’ in their approval, saying: “In my parish this culminated in the Diocese supporting unequivocally the ‘gender transition’ of a child in a Church of England primary school. As a governor of the school the welfare of that child and all the other children in the school was my responsibility and priority and I was deeply concerned.”

The former governor explained that his concerns surrounded safeguarding and the fact the Diocese were ‘complicit’ in preventing…

Birmingham City Council made the application following several weeks of protests outside Anderton Park Primary School in the city.

Citing “increasing fears for the safety and well-being of the staff, children and parents”, the council said it pursued legal action after the situation had become “too serious to tolerate”.

The interim injunction covers the streets immediately surrounding the school and prevents protesters printing or distributing leaflets, inviting others to protest and encouraging people to congregate at the entrance.

According to the order published on the council’s website, it also prohibits social media being used to make offensive or abusive comments about staff members.

Those protesting against LGBT teachings will have a chance to make their case to a judge on June 10.

Demonstrators have continued to gather outside the school in Dennis Road despite criticism from authorities including the council and police.

The head teacher announced the site would close for half term early last week over safety fears.

Leader of Birmingham City Council Councillor Ian Ward said: “I’m pleased that common sense has prevailed because children right across Birmingham should be free to attend school safely and without disruption.

“All our schools must be safe spaces and we will not tolerate the ongoing intimidation of parents, hard-working school staff and local…