‘Farce’ over Christ Church dean costs £3m in donations

CHRIST Church, Oxford, has suffered losses of more than £3million in bequests and donations due to an ongoing “farce” over the dean’s tenure, it is claimed.

A row between the Oxford college’s governing body and the Very Rev Prof Martyn Percy has become increasingly bitter, fuelled by accusations that the latter’s critics will stop at nothing to have him deposed.

The Rev Jonathan Aitken, one of Dr Percy’s allies, has revealed that the dispute is costing the college dearly, not just in legal fees and tribunal costs but also in lost donations.

He accused the Censors, dons who take on responsibility for the academic life of the college, of becoming “financial alcoholics” who could not stop pouring away the charitable funds of the college on legal fees.

“The failed coup and the continuing attacks by the Censors and their allies on the Dean have been a financial catastrophe for Christ Church,” he told The Telegraph. “My friendly sources in the development office tell me that well over £3million in donations and bequests have been lost.”

Mr Aitken said one of the college’s biggest donors was among those who had “let it be known he was not giving another penny until this farce ends”.

A Christ Church spokesman said: “We do not recognise the figures that have been given to The Telegraph.

“There is an impasse as the Dean has paused the mediation process that had been ongoing. Christ Church is committed to resolving the dispute and we believe the best way of doing so is through independent mediation … and we have appealed to the Charity Commission to help us achieve this.”