A clergyman who admitted lying on oath has avoided a prison sentence.

The Rev Christopher Walker, after his appearance at Oxford Magistrates' Court last month

The Rev Christopher Walker was sentenced to 180 hours' community service at Reading Crown Court yesterday,(June 24) after Judge Bruce McIntyre said he saw no point in putting him behind bars.

His future in the Church of England now hangs in the balance and his fate is set to be decided by the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev Richard Harries.

A spokesman for the Oxford diocese would only say yesterday that they would need time to reflect on the sentence, while also supporting the rector and his family.

Walker, 53, who is in charge of four churches in the Moretons and the Astons, near Didcot, has not been suspended by the Church, but has been absent from services since pleading guilty to perjury on May 27.

He admitted lying while giving evidence as a witness at the trial of Roger Barker, the owner of R&H Barker undertakers, of Didcot and Wantage.

During the trial, he denied he had been present when unidentified ashes had been scattered at the church in Aston Tirrold. Later he accepted this was not the case.

Barker was convicted of knowingly giving the wrong ashes to a young man's grieving parents.

Jonathan Coode, defending, said Walker had lied only because he was "naive".

He said it was cowardice that had caused him to lie, but he had been brave in coming forward and telling "the whole sorry story".

Sentencing Walker, Judge McIntyre told him: "Offences of this kind are normally treated with an immediate custodial sentence.

"As a result of the offence committed, the trial resulted in a conviction. This offence will give the defendant grounds to appeal. This involves an enormous amount of public expense and is an example of why the courts treat this sort of offence seriously. But I can see no point in sending you to prison." He added: "You pleaded guilty and plucked up the courage to come forward. The chances are if you had not, this would never have come to light.

"You now have a conviction for an offence of dishonesty and that is punishment in itself."

In a statement, the Diocese of Oxford said the church needed time to reflect on the judge's decision.

It said: "Whilst fully acknowledging the seriousness of this offence, the Church of England remains personally supportive of the Rev Christopher Walker and his family."

It continued: "Mr Walker has admitted his crime. He is penitent, and deeply sorry for the embarrassment caused to himself, his family and the church he serves. We now need time to reflect with him on the implications of the judge's decision for his future ministry in the Church of England."

Walker is responsible for St John the Baptist Church in South Moreton; All Saints' in North Moreton; St Michael's in Aston Tirrold; and All Saints' in Aston Upthorpe.

Churchwarden Chris Connisbee said that services had continued in his absence with the help of the Rev Edwin Clements, the rector of Blewbury.

Mark Stott, landlord of the Bear Inn, in North Moreton, said residents in the village had been following the case. Mr Stott, who is not a churchgoer, said he did not know Walker personally, but he had occasionally been in the pub.

He said: "Community service is the right way to go. Sending him down for perjury would have been a pointless exercise.

"I'm sure it was not deliberate. I think he just made a mistake that cost him dear.

"That appears to be the general feeling -- a twit for making such a mistake -- but sending him down would have been a gross over-reaction and a waste of taxpayers' money."

He added: "I think he should just be able to carry on. He has to face his parishioners, but if the courts have dealt with him, that should be the end of it."