A STEADY stream of letters have been arriving at a bishop's administrative headquarters ever since he invited the public to deliver their verdict on the leadership at one of the region's cathedrals.

The Dean of Ripon, the Very Reverend John Methuen, has come under fire for his "autocratic" style of management, which is said to be responsible for the departure of three key members of staff.

Bursar Nigel Clay, chapter clerk Dr Howard Crawshaw and director of music Kerry Beaumont have all left within the past 18 months.

There have also been mutterings among the purists in the congregation in the wake of the Dean's decision to support the launch of the cathedral's own beer and the staff's participation in the annual pancake races, which some have called undignified.

Such has been the unrest that troubleshooters were called in to examine the root cause, although their findings proved inconclusive and did not result in a solution.

As a result, the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Right Reverend John Packer, requested the opinions of the people of the diocese, who have been asked to write to registrar Nicola Harding.

Yesterday, she confirmed there had been a significant response.

"Obviously, we cannot discuss the content of letters, but there have certainly been plenty," she said.

People with positive or negative views on Ripon Cathedral's predicament have until Friday, August 30, to send them to the Diocesan Registrar at 4 Kirkgate, Ripon, North Yorkshire.