The Rev Stephen Dickinson from Glenarm, who is also an Orangemen, says he is considering leaving the Order because "modernisers" are destroying its traditional religious outlook and practices.

The Order's Grand Secretary Drew Nelson has blamed the fall in membership on the increasing secularisation in wider society.

But Mr Dickinson disagrees and says it is precisely the opposite that is the case.

In a letter to the News Letter, he said: "It is strange that he should blame the 'falling away from religion' when some of us have been saying we must concentrate more on the Protestant faith, the basis of Orangeism.

"We were told that the institution was 50 per cent 'cultural' and 50 per cent 'religious', so why would the leadership choose to say that the falling away from 'religion' is the problem?"

Mr Dickinson said he wasn't denying there was a wider move away from religion, but said that was all the more reason for the Order to stick to its traditional ethos and act as a rallying point for Protestants.

"There has perhaps never been a more needy time for the Order to give clear, positive leadership - strong, biblical, Protestant leadership in days of evil, betrayal and compromise on all fronts."

He added: "I am another Orangeman thinking about walking away – not because I have lost interest in religion but because the Orange Order has."

The Orange Order said it would issue a statement on Mr Dickinson's claims at a later date.