The National Trust has defended an advertisement stating a holiday cottage in Wiltshire can only be rented to practising Roman Catholics. The charity was bequeathed Lawes Cottage near Dinton in 1940 and it was the owner's wishes the cottage should only be let to practicing Catholics.
A Trust spokesman told the BBC he believed the advertisement in the Catholic Herald was appropriate.
"We will review the situation if the law or public feeling changes."
'Devout Catholic'
He added he believed the Trust was not breaking the law as it was providing a service rather than offering employment.
"The cottage owner was a devout Roman Catholic and had a small chapel built near the house.
"It's the first time there have been objections [to the advert] but if the law was to change or public feeling changed then we'd have to look again at the conditions.
"However we do need to take into account people's wishes and we try to honour the conditions of the original gift," he said.
In addition to financial references, those renting the property would be asked to produce a letter from their parish priest stating they were an "active member" of the Catholic church.
One-Minute World News 
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