You feel powerless to track it down with the devious methods being used

Reverend Roger Greene

Copies of the professionally-produced leaflet arrived in separate envelopes, one addressed to Mr Greene and the other to his wife.

"The whole thing is atrocious," said Mr Greene.

"The postmark was Norwich and both envelopes were in the same handwriting.

"Someone somewhere is targeting Methodist ministers."

He hopes that the mail is just a very nasty one-off.

Hope for information

"It is particularly offensive. It is really quite damaging.

"You feel powerless to track it down with the devious methods being used," he said.

The minister said he had decided to go public about the material in the hope that more information comes to light about who is behind the publication.

Rachel Lampard, secretary of political affairs for the Methodist Church, said she was not aware that any other clergy have received the same material.

Police involvement

"It is very saddening there are people with such twisted views," she said.

"You don't want to give this stuff more credence than it deserves, the bin is the best place."

Harvey Kurzfield, the chairman of the Jewish community in Cornwall, said: "It is appalling they should be sent this material.

"It breeds rumours that could spread. It is something we should put a stop to.

"The normal reaction is to tear something like this up and bin it. But I do think the police should be sent this literature so they can see it," he said.