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St Paul's protest: Canon Chancellor Giles Fraser quits | St Paul's protest: Canon Chancellor Giles Fraser quits |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The canon chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral has resigned from his post. | The canon chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral has resigned from his post. |
Dr Giles Fraser has been sympathetic to the protest camp, set up outside by anti-capitalist activists, which led to the building's week-long closure on health and safety grounds. | |
"It is with great regret and sadness that I have handed in my notice at St Paul's Cathedral," he said on href="http://twitter.com/#!/giles_fraser" >Twitter. | |
Visitors are to be readmitted from Friday lunchtime and a special service will be held to mark the reopening. | |
The cathedral's dome and galleries will stay shut "for the time being", however, said a spokeswoman. | |
Differences over the handling of the protest are thought to have prompted Dr Fraser's decision, the BBC's religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said. | |
The Dean of St Paul's, the Right Reverend Graeme Knowles, said he was "sorry to see him go". | The Dean of St Paul's, the Right Reverend Graeme Knowles, said he was "sorry to see him go". |
'Unique contribution' | 'Unique contribution' |
Dr Fraser, who was a former vicar of Putney, had taken up the cathedral post, a Crown appointment, in 2009. | Dr Fraser, who was a former vicar of Putney, had taken up the cathedral post, a Crown appointment, in 2009. |
Following the resignation, Mr Knowles said: "Giles has brought a unique contribution to the life and ministry of St Paul's. | Following the resignation, Mr Knowles said: "Giles has brought a unique contribution to the life and ministry of St Paul's. |
"He has developed the work of the St Paul's Institute and has raised the profile of our work in the City. | "He has developed the work of the St Paul's Institute and has raised the profile of our work in the City. |
"We are obviously disappointed that he is not able to continue to his work with Chapter during these challenging days. | "We are obviously disappointed that he is not able to continue to his work with Chapter during these challenging days. |
"We will miss his humour and humanity and wish Giles and his family every good wish into the future." | "We will miss his humour and humanity and wish Giles and his family every good wish into the future." |
Ronan McNern, from Occupy London Stock Exchange (OLSX), said Dr Giles was a "man of principles" and the protesters were "very grateful for the respect and support" he had shown them by defending their right to protest. | |
"The fact that he has resigned shows a clear split within the cathedral." | "The fact that he has resigned shows a clear split within the cathedral." |
Another spokesman for the group said if Dr Fraser wanted to join the camp they would provide him with a tent. | Another spokesman for the group said if Dr Fraser wanted to join the camp they would provide him with a tent. |
The protesters said they were still open for dialogue. | The protesters said they were still open for dialogue. |
'Common sense prevails' | |
When the camp was first set up, Dr Fraser said he was happy for the demonstrators to stay and asked police to scale back their presence. | When the camp was first set up, Dr Fraser said he was happy for the demonstrators to stay and asked police to scale back their presence. |
He has refused to sanction the use of force to remove them as pressure mounts on the cathedral to join in legal action against protesters, our correspondent said. | He has refused to sanction the use of force to remove them as pressure mounts on the cathedral to join in legal action against protesters, our correspondent said. |
The Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Richard Chartres, who had also called on the protesters to go, said Dr Fraser was an "important voice in the Church" and should continue to be heard. | The Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Richard Chartres, who had also called on the protesters to go, said Dr Fraser was an "important voice in the Church" and should continue to be heard. |
Regarding the cathedral's reopening, he told the href="http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-24003004-common-sense-wins-with-reopening.do" >London Evening Standard that "common sense looks set to prevail". | |
"It is easy to be cynical about health and safety, but it would be naive of the Dean and Chapter, in charge of a tourist attraction visited by thousands each week, to ignore the attached public liability responsibilities," he said. | |
The cathedral claimed to be losing £20,000 a day since its closure. | |
Demonstrators, who are protesting against alleged corporate greed and inequality, have vowed to remain at the site for several weeks. | |
The City of London Corporation's planning committee is due to hear legal advice on Friday and decide whether to take court action against the demonstrators. | |
The OLSX said it had been reorganising the camp to facilitate the cathedral's reopening, but added the issue of legal action was "a minefield" in terms of land ownership and the rights of protesters. | The OLSX said it had been reorganising the camp to facilitate the cathedral's reopening, but added the issue of legal action was "a minefield" in terms of land ownership and the rights of protesters. |