Dawn French, who lived in Fowey, Cornwall, starred in The Vicar Of Dibley (Picture: BBC)

The Vicar of Dibley would surely chuckle at the irony – after a church near the former home of star Dawn French voted against having a woman priest.

St Fimbarrus in Fowey, Cornwall, is at the centre of a sexism storm over a resolution passed by the parish not to have a female vicar.

Despite being without a vicar for four years, a minority in the congregation said they could not stay in the church on theological grounds unless the priest was male.

Some residents expressed frustration yesterday – International Women’s Day – over the ‘misogynistic’ decision.

One said: ‘So Dawn French lived here, she played a female vicar, which is not good enough for her former home.’

Fowey in Cornwall is now at the centre of a sexism row (Picture: SWNS)

St Fimbarrus church will not employ a female vicar (Picture: SWNS)

Others recalled a famous scene in the BBC comedy when French’s Geraldine Granger is introduced as the new vicar and farmer Owen Newitt replies: ‘No, it isn’t! She’s a woman!’

Fowey’s parochial church council defended its decision, saying that, while the Bible is clear all are equal there is ‘debate over the roles women play within the church’.

St Fimbarrus church in Fowey, Cornwall refuses to have a female vicar.