St Paul's Cathedral has suspended legal action against the Occupy London Stock Exchange protest camp on its doorstep.
In a statement the chapter of the cathedral said it had "unanimously agreed" to instead re-engage directly and constructively with the 200 tent-strong protest and the "moral and ethical issues they wish to address".
However it appears that the City of London Corporation will still press ahead with its own seperate plans to clear the campsite.
The Corporation has handed a letter to the group warning them that it has 48 hours to clear its campsite or High Court action will follow.
The cathedral had been seen to have hardened its stance against the protesters recently after initially allowing them to camp nearby. After reopening its doors to tourists on Friday the cathedral had said it would push for the legal right to evict the protesters.
However three high profile resignations have signalled a complex shift in attitudes.
On Monday the cathedral's Dean, the Right Rev Graeme Knowles, resigned saying his position was "untenable". His departure followed those of Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Giles Fraser and part-time chaplain Fraser Dyer.
The full statement rescinding the legal action reads:
The Chapter of St Paul’s Cathedral has unanimously agreed to suspend its current legal action against the protest camp outside the church, following meetings with Dr Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London, late last night and early this morning.
The resignation of the Dean, the Rt Rev Graeme Knowles, has given the opportunity to reassess the situation, involving fresh input from the Bishop. Members of Chapter this morning have met with representatives from the protest camp to demonstrate that St Paul’s intends to engage directly and constructively with both the protesters and the moral and ethical issues they wish to address, without the threat of forcible eviction hanging over both the camp and the church.
It is being widely reported that the Corporation of London plans to ask protesters to leave imminently. The Chapter of course recognises the Corporation’s right to take such action on Corporation land.
The Bishop has invited investment banker, Ken Costa, formerly Chair of UBS Europe and Chairman of Lazard International, to spearhead an initiative reconnecting the financial with the ethical. Mr Costa will be supported by a number of City, Church and public figures, including Giles Fraser, who although no longer a member of Chapter, will help ensure that the diverse voices of the protest are involved in this.
The Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres, said: “The alarm bells are ringing all over the world. St Paul’s has now heard that call. Today’s decision means that the doors are most emphatically open to engage with matters concerning not only those encamped around the Cathedral but millions of others in this country and around the globe. I am delighted that Ken Costa has agreed to spearhead this new initiative which has the opportunity to make a profound difference.”
The Rt Rev Michael Colclough, Canon Pastor of St Paul’s Cathedral and a member of Chapter, added: “This has been an enormously difficult time for the Cathedral but the Chapter is unanimous in its desire to engage constructively with the protest and the serious issues that have been raised, without the threat of legal action hanging over us. Legal concerns have been at the forefront in recent weeks but now is the time for the moral, the spiritual and the theological to come to the fore.”