Row breaks out over ownership of cathedral bookshop (From Durham Times)

Row breaks out over ownership of cathedral bookshop

1:53pm Friday 28th November 2008

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A ROW has broken out over the running of a cathedral bookshop.

More than 300 people have signed a petition calling on the Dean and Chapter of Durham Cathedral to “rescue” its shop from its US owners.

Critics claim Phil and Mark Brewer’s Saint Stephen the Great Trust has “ravaged”

the shop, once described as “the besttheologicalbookshopintheworld”, leaving it a shadow of its former self.

The trust took over the bookshop from the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge in November 2006.

Opponents have an online petition, titled Rescuing Britain’s Christian Heritage: Durham Cathedral Bookshop.

It reads: “Surely enough is enough, we urge you (the Dean and Chapter of Durham Cathedral) to take decisive action now to rescue the shop from further decimation.

“Durham Cathedral is a World Heritage Site and an iconic northern shrine, a popular tourist destination and a centre of Britain’s spiritual life – yet it is now married by association and ill-equipped to serve those who come to it seeking spiritual refreshment and theological enlightenment.

“We therefore call upon you to step in, as Jesus once stepped in at the Temple of Jerusalem, and to drive out these men who are bringing this unique part of Britain’s Christian Heritage into disrepute.

We urge you, please: take back control of your bookshop, of our bookshop, without further delay.”

The trust – set up in 2004 to acquire redundant churches in order to put them into use for orthodox Christian worship – did not respond to requests for an interview or statement.

Paul Whittaker, chapter clerk at Durham Cathedral, said: “Discussion with Saint Stephen the Great is ongoing but the Chapter considers that injudicious comment about a business tenancy at this stage will not help to resolve the issues affecting the future of the shop and may prejudice any legal proceedings or settlement.”

The petition can be viewed at ipetitions.com/petition/durhamcathedralbookshop/index.html.

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