Penryn Town Council debated whether it was funding a children's group or supporting religious "propaganda" at a recent discussion of grant funding.

Concerns were raised that the council might be breaking rules on Section 137 grants which prevent taxpayer funding for religious groups, as it examined a request from Penryn Methodist Church.

The application for £50 to support the church's Children’s Holiday Club, which follows just months after the council agreed £1,700 towards church roof repairs, was for "craft materials, refreshments and holiday club

resource book and DVD," is elsewhere described as being Bible stories.

Councillor David Garwood said: "I do have a big problem funding religious organisations who want to buy books or things promoting their religion at tax payers' expense.

"I don't think it's appropriate that a council should be paying this kind of money towards a religious association."

Councillor Martin Mullins said: "I'm not religious but we have to put aside our own personal feelings for stuff like this.

"This is something that gives kids something to do, whether it's religious education or religious propaganda I'm not sure, but I think we should support this."

Councillor Beverley Hulme said "like a school" it was parents' prerogative whether or not their children attended something with religious overtones.

Town clerk Michelle Davey said that legally, section 137 grants should not be for a religious purpose, but it was "up to councillors to decide whether this does constitute a religious purpose or it's just play for children."

Councillor Mullins said he thought it was just "volunteers getting together to look after children," and Councillor Edward Wilkes said he supported it as "children go there and it keeps them off the streets."

Councillor Rich Mitchell said in light of the town clerk's words, the church should resubmit their application.

Councillor Garwood said that while a big part of it was looking after children in the community, but that "there's a huge part of it that is about getting children in, used to church and being good Methodist church members."

In its application, the church requested £50 retrospectively for a five day holiday club run in July, which had charged £1.50 per child per session. It said the club had 45 members, the same number it listed as its congregation when applying for funding for roof repairs in June.

The council approved the funding, with two votes against.