THE Principal of Westcott House, Cambridge, Canon Chris Chivers, has resigned with immediate effect, it was announced last Friday.

A message on the college’s website from the Bishop of Whitby, the Rt Revd Paul Ferguson, who chairs the Westcott House Council, thanked Canon Chivers “for all the good things he has done in his time as Principal. He has spoken of how great an honour he has found it to lead one of our great training institutions and he leaves surrounded by our prayers for him and his family.”

Ordinands began the first term of the academic year at the theological college on Sunday. Bishop Ferguson said that he was in close contact with the Vice-Principal and partner institutions “to ensure a good beginning to the college term and to have the necessary arrangements for our students in place”.

On Tuesday, he said that he would be adding nothing further to the statement. The diocese of Ely declined to comment.

In recent years, Canon Chivers has raised concerns about the “under-funding” of ordinands (News, 10 November 2017, 23 February 2018).