A complaint against the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, has caused discontent among prestigious members of the clergy. The Very Rev Martyn Percy, who leads both the cathedral and Christ Church, has been accused by the college’s governing body of “immoral, scandalous and disgraceful behaviour”. The allegations are to be investigated by a former High Court judge. Percy has been suspended pending the tribunal, scheduled for later this year.
More than 30 honorary canons have written to the former judge to express concern at the way the complaint is being handled. The group has praised Percy’s personal integrity and criticised a lack of transparency. The letter has also been sent to the Charity Commission.
The dispute is significant because Christ Church is both an academic institution and a cathedral. The suspension has drawn support from senior Church of England figures, including the Bishop of Oxford, Steven Croft.
The college has stated that the complaint relates to “issues surrounding the dean’s own pay and how it is set”. Percy is paid £90,000 a year, at the lower end of the spectrum for heads of Oxford colleges. The college appears to be covering the cost of the tribunal, estimated to be £500,000. However, some alumni are said to have rescinded legacies in protest.
Father Robin Gibbons, ecumenical canon of Christ Church, has spoken out about the difficulty caused to those who are suspended during an inquiry. He highlighted the “extraordinary lack of justice” regarding the suspension and the college’s delay in clarifying that the dispute did not concern safeguarding.
The matter has been raised in the UK’s House of Commons by MP John Howell, who has called for reform in the handling of such cases. Percy’s supporters have raised over £68,000 to pay for his legal expenses, but Christ Church has declined to comment on the case.
