Dons say dean ‘lacks a moral compass’ in Oxford row

Letter signed by dozens of Christ Church academics claims the clergyman is ‘not fit to remain a trustee’

THE dean of Christ Church has been accused of “unsound judgment” and “a consistent lack of moral compass” in an ongoing row with academics at Oxford University.

A letter signed by 41 members of the college’s governing body is calling on the Charity Commission to help remove the Very Rev Prof Martyn Percy from the board of trustees after he declined a £1million offer to step down.

It comes after Dr Percy was reinstated last September following his suspension for alleged “immoral, scandalous and disgraceful behaviour”.

Sir Andrew Smith, a retired High Court judge hired by the college to conduct an internal tribunal, dismissed the complaints against Dr Percy following a hearing behind closed doors in June.

The dean was reinstated but the full judgment has never been published.

He has subsequently launched an employment tribunal claim against Christ Church claiming to have been victimised and is seeking damages as a whistleblower.

But the letter, to Baroness Stowell of Beeston, chairman of the Charity Commission, claims the clergyman, who is thought to be paid about £90,000 a year for presiding over both the college and cathedral, has “breached his legal and fiduciary” duty since his reinstatement.

“He is not fit to remain a trustee. He has also persistently hampered the day-to-day operations of the institution and shown disrespect for its agreed procedures,” the letter adds.

“There is also now an established and well-documented pattern of behaviour which we believe shows the Dean to be sacrificing the best interests of Christ Church to his own.”

They also accuse Dr Percy of “disclosing or colluding to disclose confidential material to the press” and being in breach of his safeguarding duties.

The letter claims Christ Church has “attempted a settlement with the Dean on multiple occasions” but “it is clear this has not been possible without his cooperation.”

The plea to the Charity Commission is the latest salvo in a battle that last December saw the dean lose a vote of no confidence by 38 votes to two.

Because the dean was appointed by a Letters Patent, only the Queen or the Archbishop of Canterbury can request his resignation.

It is thought the college has already spent more than £2million trying to oust Dr Percy.

One insider told The Daily Telegraph: “He’s been offered £1 million to leave. He is completely unsackable.”

Christ Church is one of richest colleges, with funds than £500million.

In February, leaked emails appeared in the press revealing Oxford academics had described the Dean as a “little Hitler”, “thick”, “nasty” and a person with a “personality disorder”.

A source close to Dr Percy said he had also asked the Charity Commission to intervene in the dispute despite being cleared of any wrongdoing by a judge last year.

He said: “Since the group of colleagues who employed Sir Andrew would not accept his findings, they have now resorted to different tactics.

“There will be an employment tribunal in 2021 which will address the misconduct of others towards the dean, and many are confident that the court will find in the dean’s favour.”

“There has been no letter authorised by Christ Church governing body calling on the Charity Commission for the Dean to be barred as a trustee.

“There is a long-running conflict about the governance of the College in which both sides have urged the Charity Commission to become involved. Some people want the Dean removed: others (including members of GB and a great many alumni) do not.”

Jonathan Aitken, the disgraced former Conservative Cabinet minister turned priest, who is a member of the Christ Church alumni, has been a vocal ally of Dr Percy and accused the Oxford dons of “disgraceful” conduct.