Christ Church, which was founded in 1546 and has educated 13 UK prime ministers and 17 archbishops, has spent more than £6.6m on legal fees and PR costs in its efforts to force its dean, the Reverend Martin Percy. The commission said the college, which has charitable status, had failed to manage resources responsibly and was not responsible for its spending in what it described as a “very divisive internal dispute”. The governing body’s three-and-a-half-year battle with Percy included allegations of scandalous behaviour, unfounded judgement, avarice and sexual harassment. It ended last November in a settlement that included payment to the former dean. The college also reimbursed Percy’s legal fees and agreed to an independent review of his governance. The Charity Commission issued a formal warning to the college, saying: “The commission found that there has been mismanagement and/or misconduct in the management and administration of the charity.” The committee had “significant concerns” about how legal and other costs in relation to the dispute had risen to more than £6.6m. It found there were “inadequate internal controls and the charity was not transparent when asked about costs”. The college submitted about 800 pages of evidence to refute the allegations, he said. At the center of the controversy was Percy’s pay and his efforts to reform the college’s governance. He was initially suspended after being accused of conduct of an “immoral, scandalous or disgraceful nature,” the wording of the college’s charter under which a dean can be removed. The college hired Sir Andrew Smith, a retired high court judge, to chair a tribunal on the dispute. After a closed-door hearing in June 2019, Smith dismissed all 27 complaints against Percy and ordered his reinstatement. However, attempts by the governing body to remove Percy from his post continued. The controversy is believed to have cost the college millions in voided endowments and donations. Percy, who left his post in April, said: “This is a devastating finding against a charity that was clearly out of control. It is now beyond doubt that a small group of administrators at Christ Church were determined to get rid of me at any cost… Alumni and donors will be amazed that £6.6 million – money ostensibly earmarked for education – was wasted on lawyers and agencies public relations . This was then covered in the bills.” Those responsible must be held accountable, he added. “The Church of Christ cannot recover from this episode until this happens.” A Christ Church spokesman said: “In very complex and ever-changing circumstances, the trustees have taken decisions which, having taken professional advice, they have judged to be in the best interests of Christ Church. “Many of the costs arose as a result of Dr Percy’s refusal to compromise with a government body that had lost confidence and trust in him.” A review of Christ Church’s governance was underway, the spokesman said. Last December, Chris Patten, the former cabinet minister who is now chancellor of Oxford University, said the “protracted and ongoing dispute” had damaged the university’s reputation.
