Controversial changes (From The Oxford Times)

Controversial changes

8:20am Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Letters

Sir – You report (January 26) that Lord Blair “is now chairman of the new Fabric Advisory Committee” of Christ Church Cathedral. Until now this has been the only cathedral in the country subject to no outside control whatever (because of its status as an ‘ecclesiastical Peculiar’).

The Dean and Chapter have taken advantage of this to remove a long series of furnishings from the building, and make controversial alterations. It has now been agreed with the DCMS that the Fabric Committee will, as an interim measure, at least provide outside advice.

One has to ask what has led to Lord Blair’s appointment. He is a Christ Church graduate, and is described as ‘a devout Anglican’, and is no doubt a thoroughly good chap, but has he any knowledge of church architecture?

Peter Howell, Oxford