I wrote to Rev Tom Ambrose last year in respect of his views on war and religion. I pointed out that the C of E had invested in WMD in the shape of 25 million shares in GEC. I didn't think innocent women and children should be killed for profit and Jesus -or Mohamed for that matter.

But now I know what they need the money for! At £150,00 - £500,000 per hearing surely atheism would be cheaper. Dawkins, Marx or Buddah anyone?

PS Has the good Reverend ever thought of putting a jacuzzi in the vestry? How about karaoke and limbo dancing for Harvest festival?

Phil Doran, working class socialist anarchist and Trumpington council tenant, who gets looked down on by the very snobs Ambrose is doing battle with.

Phil Doran, Cambridge, UK

As a Quaker Ffriend I've known Tom Ambrose for nearly 20 years and am astonished both at how some parishioners appear to have behaved, and at how his Bishop and some senior church members appear to have treated him. Matters have been left hanging in the air for months, even years. Even now a massively expensive tribunal is awaited and the months tick by. In 1987 Tom was Chairman to my Hon Sec of the new Fenland branch of Victim Support Scheme and made me and many others welcome in his church and home. I was and am always much moved by the shared sense of his and his family's deep spirituality. When things get strained, even heated, in Quaker meetings for worship for business, someone quietly remarks "I think we should have a few moments silent worship" and we try to hear the leadings of the spirit in our difficulty. I hope a way forward might emerge in which Trumpington Parish continues quietly to benefit from an excellent spiritual leader.

Noël Staples, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

There is a venerable tradition of being 'fools for Christ'. The Parishioners of Trumpington seem to have taken this ambition too far. They have an exceptional parish priest whom I have known over 30 years, and they should count themselves lucky to have a man of such calibre.

Andrew Parsons, Norwich, UK

I was privileged to know Tom Ambrose for a few years when he was a young curate in Northumberland in the 1970s. He and his family were always at the centre of a warm and affectionate church community. He had huge respect for the ancient fabric of the parish church, and even more the people whom it served. A clever geologist as well as a sound theologian, he never allowed his considerable intellect to overshadow his natural empathy for those of us who were not so bright. I doubted him on a few occasions, such as the time he vowed to drive his old Escort through a blizzard to get three of us to a Confirmation on Tyneside, but I always found that if I followed his instinct for what would work he invariably turned out to be right. If his unhappy parishioners will simply relax and trust him as their father in God, they'll see that things will be well.

John Wagstaff, Birmingham,

Jesus Christ has to be the central focus of any Christian church, of any denomination. When Jesus Christ is lifted up and adored for what he did for us on the cross, our minor differences become of little consequence. Given that before his death Jesus prayed not once, but three times, for love between his followers, this parish friction must be well outside his will. All parties would thus be wise to reconcile their disagreements without being disagreeable.
Could this be done with an arbitrator, rather than incurring the huge cost of a court hearing? Jesus Christ himself had something to say on this subject in Matthew 5:22-26.
Robert Hutton.Member of the Diocese in Europe.

Robert Hutton, Sunflowers, Radnage, Bucks, UK

Having had the good fortune to meet Tom Ambrose and be married by him in St Mary and St Michael in 2003 ( we still attend one every few months when we can get to Campbridge) I feel I should write and support him.

In my experience he is a kind, knowledgable and progressive Rev'd who supports gentle reform of some of the C of E's policies to make them more relevant to modern Christians and their busy lives. He is certainly no radical reformist who overides the views of his parishioners to push through unpopular reforms.

Rev'd Ambrose does not deserve the abuse and vitriol that has obviously been directed at him. He would never allow the "pastoral breakdown" he has been accused of to occur between himself and his parishioners being an excellent comunicator and conciencious vicar.

I notice that none of the complainants had the courage to defend their point of view to your correspondent, claiming sub-judice. Could it be they are ashamed of their petty actions?

Christopher. Headlam, London,