An Orange March is set to be diverted away from a Catholic church after a priest gave “his blessing” for a protest to go ahead.

The Dalmarnock Orange and Purple District No.50 band have applied to march past St Mary’s Church, on Abercromby Street in Calton, as part of their Remembrance parade on Sunday, November 11.

Canon Tom White, who was allegedly spat and lunged at outside St Alphonsus Church during an Orange march in July, is also the parish priest for St Mary’s. And he has backed plans for a protest if the latest march is allowed to go past the church.

Organisers have so far resisted calls for the band to miss out Abercromby Street on their way to and from Glasgow Green for a memorial service.

But cops will warn of possible disorder after admitting this week that protest group ‘Called Out’ have now vowed to “defend” the church.

Earlier this week the council ordered a march by the Bridgeton Apprentice Boys of Derry to be re-routed away from St Alphonsus Church amid protest concerns.

That came after two other marches, organised by the Orange and Purple District 37 and the Royal Black Preceptory, were diverted.

In his report, set to be considered by councillors on Wednesday, Police Scotland Superintendent John McBride said he recently met with Canon Tom White to discuss the possibility of this parade passing his church. Mr McBride said: “He was very clear that there is still significant tension in the community. Canon White indicated that any demonstration against the parade would be with ‘his blessing’.”

The parade organisers want to go from Landressy Place to the Calton Parkhead Parish Church .

They are then hoping to walk to Glasgow Green via Abercromby Street for another service before heading back up Abercromby Street on their way back to Landressy Place.

The council is expected to order the marchers to take a new route through Fielden Street on to London Road, Arcadia Street and to the Green, with a similar route on the return leg.