Rosslyn Chapel, like Lincoln Cathedral, received a generous donation for allowing Ron Howard and his crew to use the building in the film. Dr Sinclair said he was one of many who are “outraged and furious” that the trustees of Rosslyn Chapel have followed Lincoln Cathedral in accepting such a donation.

“I have to say that in return for thousands of pounds the people running Rosslyn are going to propagate lie after lie on film for millions to watch. I’m very concerned about the long-term impact on Rosslyn,” he said.

But trustees to the chapel have defended their decision to allow filming of the Da Vinci Code on the site. Stuart Beattie, spokesman for the Rosslyn trustees, said: “As for how appropriate it is to use Rosslyn Chapel as a location you have to remember the differences between ourselves and, say, Westminster Cathedral.

“Westminster is a major working church – Rosslyn is primarily a historic building. It is used by the Episcopal Church, but it is a historic site.”

Mr Beattie also said media reports stating that the chapel trust had received donations of around £150,000 were exaggerated but added that the sum paid was “equitable” for a major Hollywood production.

2005 will see an estimated 105,000 visitors descend on the small town of Roslin, more used to visitors around the 10,000 mark. After the release of the film this number will most likely soar.

Barry McPherson of VisitScotland, which already offers Da Vinci Code mini-breaks for tourists, warned that the town’s infrastructure will need an overhaul in order to cope with the large numbers: “Any time Scotland is featured in something like this, there is a ‘Braveheart effect’. The chapel itself is a bit like Machu Picchu [Peru’s threatened ancient monument]; it could become a victim of its own success.”

Dr Sinclair agrees: “The chapel is buckling under the weight of all these visitors. It is the most beautiful chapel in northern Britain. There should be a congestion charge for getting in.”

Filming at the chapel will last a week.