Legal Bills Soar in Church Homosexuality Row

The legal costs of a dispute between the US Episcopal church and conservative parishes that have broken away in a row over a gay bishop have already risen to an estimated $700,000 (£354,000) or more.

The case opened today in Virginia's Fairfax county circuit court. Those involved expect the case to be protracted, sending the costs soaring.

Jim Oakes, a spokesman for the breakaway churches, said: "I think it is tragic we are having to spend this money. We have said consistently we would much rather put that into mission work."

The Episcopal church - part of the worldwide Anglican communion headed by Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury - has engaged top law firms to win back what it claims is its property, rather than the parishes themselves. Similar actions seem likely in Colorado and Pennsylvania.

Two of the 11 breakaway churches in Virginia Falls and Truro, are estimated to be worth $25m (£12.5m).

Mr Oakes said the diocese has told people it has spent $500,000 so far and the breakaway churches had spent about $300,000 - $400,000.

Most of the 11 churches left in December after a protracted row, which still threatens to tear the worldwide church apart, over the 2003 consecration of the openly homosexual New Hampshire bishop, Gene Robinson.

The judge set November 19 as the date for the hearing proper, though legal argument is set to continue throughout the summer.