The unlocked church doors were a sign that all were welcome. But the Reverend Andrew Yates has proven a little less welcoming once he knew the intentions of one group of visitors.

Photographer Andy Craddock, his girlfriend and a couple of models used the vicar's church in Cornwall as the backdrop for an erotic photoshoot.

Now solicitors acting on behalf of Yates have written to the photographer accusing him of blasphemy. They say that the publication of the pictures on his website, which include naked girls alongside religious symbols, is blasphemous, regardless of his intentions.

They have also threatened him with legal action for trespassing, saying public access to the church is for worship or related church activities and he did not have permission for his photography.

Craddock pointed out that If God does exist, and there is life after death, is someone really going to mind if one of my models is lying on their grave? I would have thought they might be glad of the company: I haven't been struck down by lightening yet so obviously God doesn't mind.

The series of fetishistic photos includes: a half-naked girl in suspenders on a private grave; a blonde in the pulpit in a tutu; a half-naked blonde cavorting in the font; two half-naked girls posing between the candles of the altar; and a blonde girl exposing her underwear while reading a Bible by a church window.

The solicitor's letter describes blasphemy as the publication of contemptuous, reviling, scurrilous or ludicrous matter relating to God, Jesus Christ, the Bible or the formularies of the Church of England. [not much of lawyer if he hasn't noticed that blasphemy laws have been repealed]

Craddock describes himself as an ‘art-house' photographer who wanted the pictures for his portfolio. The shoot took place during the day in the middle of the week when no one was around. He posted his girlfriend on the door of the church as a look-out.

A spokesman for the Diocese of Truro said: The Church deplores the use of sacred space in this way. The pictures would be deeply offensive to people who view the place for regular worship. That's not what these buildings are intended for and he is deliberately taking advantage of the situation. Whether he's gone in there legally or illegally he is using the setting for an entirely improper purpose.

The Church of England has dropped a legal action against a photographer who used a sacred altar for an erotic photoshoot.

The pictures were of semi-naked models cavorting around a graveyard and inside the church were taken at St Michael Penkivel Church in Cornwall. One photo showed two models, called Kate and Bex, fondling each other on a cloth-draped altar, another showed a partially-clothed woman lying on a grave.

The Diocese of Truro launched legal action against photographer Andy Craddock for trespass and not having permission to take photographs. It also accused him of blasphemy - despite the laws being abolished under the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act in May 2008.

A solicitor's letter from Reverend Andrew Yates at the church ordered him to remove the photos from his website within 24 hours, and begin destruction of all copies of the images in your possession or under your control.

But Mr Craddock - who takes erotic fetish snaps during secret photoshoots at churches across the UK - ignored the letter and calls from the church's solicitors Michelmores. He claimed they were powerless to stop him, and defended the photos as art.

The 13th century church has now dropped the case. Jeremy Dowling, a spokesman for the Diocese of Truro, told Sky News Online: The case has been dropped. We thought it would be better to do that rather than give Mr Craddock continued publicity.