St Paul’s chancellor resigns in dispute over churchyard protest

The chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral has resigned from his post in a row over anti-capitalist protesters occupying the churchyard.

Canon Dr Giles Fraser’s resignation came after reports suggested there was a rift between clergy over what action to take concerning the activists.

The news came as the cathedral announced it was planning to reopen a week after it closed for the first time since the Second World War for health and safety reasons.

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St Paul’s will open at lunchtime today and there will be a special service to mark the reopening, a spokeswoman said.

The doors of the cathedral were closed for six days but they will reopen today in time for the Eucharist at 12.30pm.

A cathedral spokeswoman said the protesters camped outside will be among those prayed for at the lunchtime service.

She said staff have resolved the safety concerns which resulted in the closure of the cathedral.

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Canon Pastor of St Paul’s Rev Michael Colclough said: “Prayers have been offered for the whole situation since it began but we will certainly be remembering all those involved in the events of the past week and praying for a peaceful outcome.”

The dome and galleries will remain closed “for the time being” but the cathedral itself will be open to worshippers and visitors.

Dr Fraser, who has been sympathetic to the protest camp, told the Guardian newspaper: “I resigned because I believe that the chapter has set on a course of action that could mean there will be violence in the name of the church.”

A spokesman for the demonstrators’ camp said the activists were “deeply moved” by Dr Fraser’s actions.

One of the protesters, George Barda, 35, from London, said of Dr Fraser: “He’s standing up for the Christian values of what’s happening here.”

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