Dean Percy complaint ‘related to pay row’

THE formal complaint made against the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, the Very Revd Dr Martyn Percy, last month, which resulted in his suspension as Dean, pending a tribunal (News, 9 November), was related to a dispute over his pay and how it was set, The Times reported this week. In a letter to college alumni, the Censor Theologiae (acting chairman of governors), Richard Rutherford, wrote: “The current dispute does not concern safeguarding. Neither does it concern supposed gender bias in the College, or a lack of commitment to access initiatives, or the pay of academic staff. We are not able to discuss the detailed basis of the complaint except to say that it related to issues surrounding the Dean’s own pay and how it is set.” The Dean’s supporters have raised more than £67,000 to cover the cost of legal fees.

Monthly British Sign Language-interpreted eucharist in Manchester

MANCHESTER CATHEDRAL is to have a British Sign Language-interpreted eucharist on the first Sunday of the month, beginning this Sunday. The services are being introduced by the diocesan chaplain to deaf people, Canon Cathy Nightingale. She said: “A congregant who has attended a BSL-interpreted service in their parish told me: ‘It was the first time that I understood the link between the readings in church and the sermon. It’s lovely to be able to understand everything instead of struggling to follow, and it helped me to grow in faith.’ The Sub-Dean, the Revd David Holgate, said: “We hope that this initiative will enhance our services for all who take part.”

Correction. The second byline on our report last week “De-mining in Mosul halted after concerns”, by Abigail Frymann Rouch and Robert Ewan, was incorrectly attributed to John McEwen. We apologise.