Row over Oxford dean

sir – The situation at Christ Church, Oxford, is unsustainable. The Dean is now accused by some fellow dons of “unsound judgment” (report, May 22), having been reinstated last year after a suspension. Tribunals and intervention from opposing parties will not resolve it.

Instead, a radical reform is overdue. There must be a separation of Church and Academy. The Dean should occupy his office like any other cathedral dean, with a salary appropriate to his position. The college should appoint a head of house (under whatever title is agreeable) remunerated like similar college principals.

This rearrangement would cause an immediate cessation in hostilities. Both the present Dean and the college would be saved vast legal expenses. Brian Martin

Oxford

sir – I have known Professor Martyn Percy, the Dean of Christ Church, for longer, I suspect, than many of his critics. I am also happy to make my views known publicly, rather than assume the dissembling cloak of anonymity chosen by his accusers.

I first met Prof Percy in 2004 when I was working with St Francis’ Children’s Society. This acted as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Northampton’s voluntary adoption society, and it speaks volumes for Prof Percy’s reputation that, as an Anglican, he was invited to be its patron.

In recent years I worked with Prof Percy and others to expose the false allegations made against the late Bishop George Bell of Chichester. Prof Percy was tireless in his efforts to publicise Bishop Bell’s innocence, earning widespread respect in the community at large.

Throughout, I have found Prof Percy a man of utter honesty, integrity and morality. Many in the hierarchy of Christ Church and of the Church of England have shown that they lack a moral compass – but he is not one. Jimmy James

Wellingborough, Northamptonshire