Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

Guide leaders from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, announced publicly that they would keep the old oath after the UK-wide organisation demanded in June that all Guides abandon any reference to God in their promise.

But the St Paul’s Harrogate troop has now agreed to use the new secular oath, following a meeting with Girlguiding UK last week.

Girlguiding UK said the organisation had received 839 complaints about the new oath, but said that all members must use the secular promise after September 1.

Chief Guide Gill Slocombe said: “We appreciate that for some it is going to take time to make the adjustment.

“Whilst all leaders will need to accept this change as we go forward, we will be talking with leaders who are anxious and working with them to help resolve any difficulties. We sincerely hope it won’t be necessary for anybody to leave the organisation.”

Ms Slocombe said the response had been “overwhelmingly positive” and the 839 complaints from members “is significantly less than 1 per cent of our membership, at just 0.15%.”

Jem Henderson, 28, an atheist volunteer leader who previously accused Harrogate troop of excluding non-believers, said she was now prepared to become a leader in the area.