The dispute centred on the removal of parish priest Father John Speekman by now-retired Catholic Bishop of Sale John Coffey, which has now been resolved in favour of the bishop by the Vatican's highest judicial authority.

Fr Speekman was removed by then-Bishop Coffey after his relationship with two parish schools broke down.

Following his removal Fr Speekman twice successfully appealed the decision to the Congregation for the Clergy in 2004 and 2006, which was then appealed by Bishop Coffey to the Apostolic Signatura in 2007.

The Apostolic Signatura is the Catholic Church's highest judicial authority and upheld the decision to remove Fr Speekman.

Catholic Bishop of Sale Christopher Prowse, who replaced Bishop Coffey in 2009, described the process as a "long, drawn out saga" which had been very hurtful for the people in the parish.

"It's been eight years. It's a long time to have a parish without a priest," Bishop Prowse said.

"People have been really wanting it to come back to its normal routines and get beyond this issue."

He said the position of parish priest would now be advertised around the diocese and applications would be taken for the role.

Bishop Prowse described a parish without a priest as being like "a plane on a holding pattern", but pointed out adjudications in Rome took time.

"(With) over one billion Catholics around the globe, often disputes within the church can take time, as they take time here in the judicial system," he said.

Despite the decision he described Fr Speekman as a fine priest who would have learnt "from all that has taken place".

He commended Fr Speekman and Bishop Coffey "for their patience" on the matter.