The Diocese of Coventry has been accused of ‘un-Christian’ behaviour after calling for the felling of a 250 year old sycamore tree in the Cotswolds.

The tree, which has four trunks, is growing on land owned by Richard and Melanie Gray at Lower Brailes in Warwickshire. The couple, who are separated, say they were shocked after receiving a letter saying that they needed to install a root barrier costing around £70,000 or the tree would be chopped down.

The Four Shire Tree overlooks four counties, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and Worcestershire and is next to the parish church of St George. The diocese is reported to be concerned over the tree posing a possible subsidence risk to the nearby vicarage.

76 year old Richard Gray told The Times: “The irony is unbelievable. Here’s an organisation which is supposed to have pastoral care and love thy neighbour, and then they say take this tree down or we’ll charge you £70,000.

“To have a threatening letter sent out of the blue by the church doesn’t seem to fit into their Christian ethos for me when they are a spiritual organisation supposedly looking out for the local community.”

Mr Gray, who’s also concerned about the environment impact of felling the tree, added:

“We’re not going to pay and we’re not going to take it down and the church are still threatening to send us this rather large bill.

“It’s a magnificent tree, it’s absolutely splendid.”

In a statement to Premier a spokesperson for the Diocese of Coventry said:  “St George’s Church is an active and positive member of the community in Lower Brailes and the Vicar and other members of the congregation are not involved in handling the claim. No correspondence has been sent by the Parish, the Coventry Diocesan Board of Finance or any other part of the Diocese.

"In accordance with usual practice, this claim has been referred to our insurers who are obliged to investigate, handle and deal with the claim on the Board’s behalf. As the claim is in the hands of both parties’ insurers, its details cannot be discussed further while it is ongoing.”