A vigil was held outside a court where a vicar is due to appear.

The Reverend Paul Nicolson will appear at the Royal Courts of Justice today, to seek a judicial review of the Tottenham magistrates who ordered him to pay Haringey Borough Council’s legal costs, after he refused to pay council tax in protest against benefit cuts.

He says that magistrates refused to tell him how they arrived at the £125 costs for a summons to late and non-payers of council tax at a hearing last August.

People from community groups across London gathered outside the court to show their support for the retired vicar.

The Rev Nicolson, who lives in Tottenham, said he was looking forward to the hearing, and that the support had been “tremendous”.

He said: “It’s an important issue. The £125 is being imposed on people in council tax arrears who had never been taxed before April 2013. It’s reducing the amount of money needed for food and other necessities.

“There are three words which motivate me, with theological and secular resonance – love, justice and solidarity.

“I’m hoping the outcome is that we get a judicial review. There’s been tremendous support from a lot of people.”

Kim Sparrow, 52, from Kentish Town, is part of the group Single Mothers’ Self Defence.

She said: “We have been supporting Paul all the way through.

“We defend what he is doing, because he always supports us, and he is absolutely devoted to those with the least money. He is really dedicated.”

Ariane Sacco, from Brent, is part of the group WinVisible, which campaigns for women with disabilities.

She said: “We support Paul, who has been working with us for a few years. The costs hit people who have very little.”