Motorbiking vicar the Rev Clive Gardner stunned his congre- gation in Cumnor by announcing he was gay, before speeding off to Brighton to find a partner.

Mr Gardner, 38, who was vicar of St Michael's Church for the past five years, surprised parishioners during a service by telling them he was resigning because he was gay.

Speaking from his new home in the seaside town yesterday, Mr Gardner said it was a real wrench to leave Cumnor.

"People in the village have been extremely supportive and kind. I hope I still have something to offer the church," he added.

He plans to find a job in accountancy, and may seek a post as a non-stipendiary church minister in Brighton.

Referring to his resignation, he said: "The reason is that I'm gay and, having spent my life to date without a partner, I now feel the time has come for me to begin to allow for that possibility, should I meet someone in the future.

"Unfortunately, I don't think that it's possible to do this as a priest in the Church of England at this time with integrity, and so I find myself having no option other than to look for a new career."

Mr Gardner added the Church of England's present stance on homosexuality made it clear it was not permitted for vicars to be in active gay relationships.

"Despite the fact that some partnered gay clergy are in full-time paid ministry, with the full knowledge of both their bishop and their parish, I don't believe my con- science could allow me to do this," he said.

"This applies all the more to another option, which is to have a discreet relationship that's kept secret from the parish."

Villagers said they were sad to lose Mr Gardner.

Peter Feben-Smith, landlord at The Vine pub, where Mr Gardner was a regular, said: "I sang at his leaving service, which was packed.

"We held a wonderful surprise lunch for him here and he came with a girlfriend and about 20 friends.

"It's a real shame he has gone. I don't think it would have mattered one iota if he had found a partner when he was here."

Michael Niblett, who runs Cumnor Village Stores, praised Mr Gardner for his honesty, and said he would be sadly missed. He added: "It was very brave of Clive to announce this at the end of his sermon last month and it's a great shame to see him go.

"It was nice to have some young blood in the church and in his motorcycle leathers, he was certainly a bit different from the usual CofE vicar.

"Everyone wishes him all the best in his new life in Brighton."

In the church notices on Sunday, Mr Gardner thanked churchgoers for their leaving gift and messages of support.

Natalie Abbott, a spokesman for the Oxford Diocese, said a new parish priest was being sought.

The Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Reading, said he was saddened by Mr Gardner's resignation. He added: "Whatever our personal view, I hope that the gracious way Clive has acted will encourage us to listen more carefully to the voice and experience of gay and lesbian people as we continue to discern what God is saying to the Church."