Dean Quits Cathedral in Trouble

The Rev Christopher Hancock has resigned as Dean of Bradford after continuing financial woes at the cathedral. Although he gave no direct reason for the decision, he did state that his work in the cathedral’s financial crisis was at an end.

Hancock was appointed in June 2002, and has no security of having another job to go to at the present time. The Dean was unavailable to comment further on the incident.

During his two years, the Dean had been trying to resolve the troubled finances at the cathedral which have seen a debt of £1.4 million arise since the failure of its millennium project three years ago. The multi-faith ‘Life Force Exhibition’ proved to be a disaster and has left the cathedral with a host of creditors requesting payments.

One of the creditors, ‘Past Forward’ obtained a county-court judgment against the cathedral last year when £100,000 worth of debt was ordered to be repaid.

In July, Dr Hancock was reported as saying “For all closely involved in the failure of ‘Life Force’ and the quest for an appropriate solution, this has been a harrowing time. Hurt, embarrassment, uncertainty and anger have been felt by many.”

Hancock said, in a statement released by the diocese: "I have believed for some time that my primary task here was to solve the St Peter’s House problem. I am optimistic that the CVA (Company Voluntary Arrangement) will be agreed and signed by creditors...and with that believe that my work here will be at an end. My wife, Suzie, and I leave many friends in the city and diocese, and look forward with anticipation to what lies ahead."

Rev David James, the Bishop of Bradford expressed appreciation for the Dean’s hard work over the past two years and said, "It has been a difficult and painful time for everyone, and I wish him and Suzie well in the future."

The Dean is scheduled to give his final service at Bradford Cathedral on 26 September 2004.