Dean of St Paul's resigns

Rt Rev Graeme Knowles before his resignation

The Rt Rev Graeme Knowles, Dean of St Paul's, the most senior Dean in the UK, has resigned today, over the impending eviction of protesters camped near the church. Rev Knowles said the row had made his position "untenable".

He said: "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.

"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."

Canon Chancellor Giles Fraser, and a part-time chaplain, Rev Fraser Dyer, both resigned last week, because they said they did not want to see violence committed in the name of the Church of England.

Today the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who has been at the peace gathering in Assisi, expressed his sadness at the situation. He warned "urgent" issues raised by the protesters must be properly addressed.

In a statement he said: "The announcement today of the resignation of the Dean of St Paul's, coming as it does in the wake of the resignation of Canon Giles Fraser last week, is very sad news. The events of the last couple of weeks have shown very clearly how decisions made in good faith by good people under unusual pressure can have utterly unforeseen and unwelcome consequences, and the clergy of St Paul's deserve our understanding in these circumstances.

Graeme Knowles has been a very distinguished Dean of St Paul's, who has done a great deal to strengthen the pastoral and intellectual life of the Cathedral and its involvement in the life of London. He will be much missed, and I wish him and Susan well in whatever lies ahead."

The Archbishop added: "The urgent larger issues raised by the protesters at St Paul's remain very much on the table and we need – as a Church and as society as a whole – to work to make sure that they are properly addressed."