CONGREGATION and visitors to Canterbury Cathedral had little sympathy for former canon Dr Richard Marsh after news of his affair with a married woman.

It has emerged that the Dr Marsh was banned from serving as a priest after he ran off with woman who worked at the Cathedral’s International Study Centre.

Trainee teacher Earl Clendennen, 23, was among those at the Cathedral on Sunday.

He said: "It was the right decision to suspend him but the church preaches forgiveness so I don’t think he should be condemned.

"I do think both parties should have been more responsible in the first place, though, especially a man who is supposed to represent a moral authority."

Another visitor said: "In my opinion he should have shown more restraint and been more accountable for a man in his position."

Others said their thoughts were with both families and that the children were the real casualties.

Dr Marsh’s affair with Rosemary Hallam, the wife of Christ Church University’s personnel director John Hallam, came to light in a Sunday newspaper.

The paper reported that the cleric, a one-time aide to Archbishop George Carey, had been forced to quit his job as Canon Residentiary at the Cathedral because of his relationship with Mrs Hallam.

The bishop’s chaplain Rev Martin Short said that Dr Marsh had been placed under "pastoral discipline with the clear understanding that he will not be serving as a priest for at least the next five years".

Dr Marsh, a father-of-two, was photographed walking in hand-in-hand with Mrs Hallam in Rye, East Sussex, close to where they have set up home. Her husband works for Christ Church University while Dr Marsh’s wife Elizabeth and children are believed to still be living in Canterbury.