Storm rages over cathedral shop (From The Northern Echo)

Storm rages over cathedral shop

8:15am Friday 28th November 2008

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AN unholy 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 say Phil and Mark Brewer’s Saint Stephen the Great Trust has “ravaged” the shop, once described as “the best theological bookshop in the world”, leaving it a shadow of its former self.

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

Disgruntled opponents have a growing online petition, called Rescuing Britain’s Christian Heritage: Durham Cathedral Bookshop, which invokes a Biblical story of Jesus to support their case.

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 marred 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.”

According to its website, the trust is an orthodox lay charity established in 2004 to acquire redundant churches in order to put them into use for Orthodox Christian worship.

The trust 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.

“However, it continues to note with concern the many comments about the shop, both on the petition and those received from the diocese, the university and visitors to the shop.”

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

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