Versailles, Ky. ? Only 60 people attended the three services at historic St. John’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, while some 180 departing members had the first formal service of their new conservative congregation, St. Andrew’s.

The split occurred when Bishop Stacy Sauls and diocesan leaders ousted the parish’s governing board and took control of the building and bank accounts worth $1.87 million.

The St. John’s board opposed Sauls’ support for the consecration of openly gay Bishop V. Gene Robinson, but the diocese said it removed the board for breaking rules in seeking a new minister.

Sauls said the diocese feared that the board, or vestry, might take the parish out of the Episcopal Church. Vestry members denied this, but said they wanted oversight by a conservative bishop from outside the diocese, rather than Sauls.