The persecution of the Dean of Christ Church

sir – As an alumnus of the college, I have been shocked by the persecution of the Very Rev Professor Martyn Percy, Dean of Christ Church, Oxford (report, June 12).

Recently, a letter regarding his position was sent to the Charity Commission by 41 members of the college’s governing body, which made serious personal accusations about Dean Percy’s fitness for office and requested that he be struck off as a trustee (report, May 22).

A second letter from a wide range of senior figures praising Dean Percy and vouching for his good character appeared in this newspaper (June 2). The alumni association and numerous others have also spoken up in Dean Percy’s defence. Many benefactors have been horrified, and have cancelled bequests.

The Charity Commission has been deliberating for several months on the conduct of the governing body with regard to its reportedly spending over £2 million in various attempts to oust the dean. It has also been investigating the shocking attacks on him personally.

We are still awaiting the judgment but, given all the publicity about the issue, it is difficult to understand the delay. To an outsider, it would seem an open-and-shut case.

I call upon Baroness Stowell of Beeston, as head of the Charity Commission, to publish an adjudication without delay.

Indeed, the whole status of Christ Church as a charity must be in question until the accounts have been exposed to a full external inquiry and audit.

Independent auditors should be put in charge on a temporary basis until the commission has ruled on whether or not the expenditure on the tribunal case and its aftermath was a valid use of charitable funds.

Alan Fox

London N6