Occupy London: St Paul’s chancellor resigns amid debate over camp

Canon Dr Giles Fraser, the chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral, has resigned from his post at the church.

Dr Fraser, who was an outspoken supporter of the protest camp outside the cathedral, used Twitter to announce his resignation.

"It is with great regret and sadness that I have handed in my notice at St Paul's Cathedral," he wrote.

A cathedral spokesperson confirmed the chancellor's resignation. "Canon Fraser, a former Vicar of Putney who took up his post in June 2009, informed the Dean and Chapter colleagues of his decision today," a statement said. The Dean of St Paul's, The Reverend Graeme Knowles, said he was "sorry to see him go."

"Giles has brought a unique contribution to the life and ministry of St Paul's and we will be very sorry to see him go," he said.

"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."

Dr Fraser's decision is believed to have been based on differences among senior officials at St Paul's over the cathedral's handling of the Occupy London Stock Exchange camp.

The chancellor is understood to have considered his position untenable following plans by the Corporation of London to undertake legal action to remove the protesters.

Speaking last week, Dr Fraser issued his full support to the rights of the protesters. "I remain firmly supportive of the right of people peacefully to protest," he said. "But given the strong advice that we have received that the camp is making the cathedral and its occupants unsafe then this right has to be balanced against other rights and responsibilities too.

"The Christian gospel is profoundly committed to the needs of the poor and the dispossessed.

"Financial justice is a gospel imperative. Those who are claiming the decision to close the cathedral has been made for commercial reasons are talk-ing complete nonsense."

St Paul's has been closed since Friday 21 October over "significant issues" with health and safety surrounding the position of the camp. Officials re-main "optimistic" that the cathedral would be able to reopen to the public on Friday afternoon (28 October).