Dean of St Paul's Cathedral Quits

The Dean of St Paul's Cathedral, the Rt Rev Graeme Knowles, announced his intention to resign from his post this afternoon. He made his decision known to the Chapter and to the Bishop of London last night and has removed himself from Cathedral operations with immediate effect. He intended to submit his resignation as Dean of St Paul’s to HM the Queen today.
In the light of the Dean's resignation, the Chapter has unanimously voted to request the Bishop of London to assist them in providing an independent voice on the ongoing situation at St Paul's. The Bishop has had no part to date in the discussions and decisions made by Chapter and it is felt his input is now required.

The Rt Rev Graeme Knowles said:
"The past fortnight has been a testing time for the Chapter and for me personally. It has become increasingly clear to me that, as criticism of the cathedral has mounted in the press, media and in public opinion, my position as Dean of St Paul’s was becoming untenable. In order to give the opportunity for a fresh approach to the complex and vital questions facing St Paul’s, I have thought it best to stand down as dean, to allow new leadership to be exercised. I do this with great sadness, but I now believe that I am no longer the right person to lead the Chapter of this great cathedral.
"This has not been an easy decision for me to make, at this stage in my ministry, as I have very much enjoyed being at St Paul’s as dean. I am immensely grateful to the current members of the Chapter, both ordained and lay, as well as previous colleagues, for their help, support and encouragement, but above all, their friendship.
"I would also wish to place on record my thanks to all the staff of the cathedral, both paid and volunteers, who work tirelessly, day by day, to ensure that this amazing place is maintained, and that it is indeed cherished as a place of worship and pilgrimage.
"In recent days, since the arrival of the protesters’ camp outside the cathedral, we have all been put under a great deal of strain and have faced what would appear to be some insurmountable issues. I hope and pray that under new leadership these issues might continue to be addressed and that there might be a swift and peaceful resolution.”

The Right Reverend Michael Colclough said (on behalf of Chapter):
On behalf of the Chapter and the whole cathedral community here at St Paul’s, I would like to pay tribute to the dedication, diligence and pastoral care shown by Graeme Knowles during his time as Dean.
We received news of his resignation yesterday evening with a heavy heart after one of the most challenging weeks in the recent history of this great Cathedral. Graeme has led the Chapter and the Cathedral with enormous vitality, wisdom and fun. His time at St Paul’s has energised and encouraged us all by his unique, approachable way of combining focused leadership with a pastoral heart. This combination has also made him a widely-loved ambassador for the Christian faith and for the work of St Paul’s.. We will miss him deeply.
He has led the Chapter with conviction out of a sense of real responsibility entrusted to his care, not least in recent days. He has also represented the Cathedral in the City, the Diocese and the wider Church with a clear awareness of the importance of this great dome as a symbol of a Christian presence in the heart of the City. His clear belief in an inclusive Gospel of peace, justice and integrity should, at this moment, not be lost. It should be acknowledged and confirmed.
Cathedral staff and volunteers, currently being told of his resignation, will tell you of their respect for him and that he goes out of his way to make people feel appreciated and valued.
We would like to pay tribute to his wife Susan, too. The absence of her modest and strengthening presence amongst us at the Cathedral will be felt by everyone here. Together Graeme and Susan have enlarged the Cathedral with their generosity and incredibly tireless hard work for our ministry alongside the many diverse peoples, institutions and charities we have privilege and challenge of serving.
It is that ministry that remains the Chapter’s priority in these difficult days and we are committed to doing all we can to finding a way ahead that ensures the main message of the protest is not only heard but properly attended to and in such a way that people in the local community, as well as our own team, can do their work peacefully for the good of everyone who comes to this City and its cathedral.

Dr Richard Chartres, The Bishop of London, said:
"I was very sad to hear the Dean’s decision and believe he has acted honourably in a very difficult situation. During his time at St Paul’s, Graeme has accomplished a great deal that should not be overshadowed by recent events.
"The Chapter has now requested me to help them find a way forward. I have repeated over the past few weeks my own desire to shift the attention to the economic and moral challenges which our country, in common with so much of the rest of the world, is having to face. There are many diverse voices in the camp outside St Paul’s but among them, serious issues are being articulated which the Cathedral has always sought to address.
"While St Paul’s is not on any particular political side – that is not its role – it does have an important part to play in providing a place for reasoned debate within a moral and spiritual context."