Durham Cathedral Bookshop as pictured on the Cathedral website
On 20th August 2008 we launched an online petition addressed to the Dean and the Chapter at Durham Cathedral expressing concern at the deterioration of the Cathedral Bookshop and the low morale of the staff who serve there since the shop was taken over by the Brewers, and requesting that they take urgent and decisive action to take control of this situation.
The announcement of the petition may be found here:
Rescuing Britain’s Christian Heritage: Durham Cathedral Bookshop
The petition itself may be viewed and signed online here:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/durhamcathedralbookshop/
A response from the Dean, received 6th Sept 2008, may be found here:
The Dean of Durham Replies
Within 48 hours of the petition’s launch it had already collected over 100 signatures from members of the clergy, a representative of General Synod, students from Durham University and elsewhere, academic booksellers, at least one concerned author, former SPCK/SSG employees and many others from amongst the shop’s customer base as well as elsewhere. The number of signatories is steadily growing and at each multiple of 50 signatures it will be re-presented to the Dean until the petition closes.
The list of signatories may be viewed here:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/durhamcathedralbookshop/signatures-1.html
The petition — which remains open until such time as the Brewers are no longer in control of the Cathedral bookshop — allows space to leave personal comments. Many signatories have chosen to take advantage of this to express outrage at the Brewers’ decimation of the shop and at their mistreatment of their staff, as well as to express their support for the Dean and Chapter, encouraging them to take whatever action may be necessary to save this once great bookshop.
If you share the concerns expressed, please read, sign and leave your comments on the petition today.
Church urged to reclaim SSG shop: report in the Bookseller, 26.08.2008
Update, 26/08/2008
Graeme Neill, who has been reporting regularly on the SPCK/SSG affair for The Bookseller, has now posted a report on this petition, screenshot right: Church urged to reclaim SSG shop.
Update, 22/09/2008
Durham Cathedral Bookshop: One Month On
What Next?
On 12th December 2008 we announced another petition: Rescuing Chichester’s Christian Bookshop. Again, if you share the concerns expressed, please read, sign and leave your comments on that petition as well. Thank you.
55 responses so far ↓
Durham Cathedral Bookshop: Petition Update « SPCK/SSG: News, Notes & Info // September 1, 2008 at 6:35 am |
[...] Petition ← Reflections on a Campaign so far, and SSG Not Bankrupt [...]
David Keen // September 3, 2008 at 6:37 pm |
200 up!
Durham Cathedral Bookshop Petition: The Dean of Durham Replies « SPCK/SSG: News, Notes & Info // September 6, 2008 at 2:00 pm |
[...] Petition ← SPCK Weekly Update: 5th September 2008 [...]
EZRA // September 19, 2008 at 4:20 pm |
Despite asingleblog`s efforts, Durham is doomed if some are still supporting SSG, ordering books from Gardners and Bertrams and behaving unfairly.
Questioner // September 19, 2008 at 7:48 pm |
The question in Durham is a moral dilemma. Staff who have worked in bookselling for many years and are proud of that work, plus feel a loyalty to their Cathedral and want it to have a remnant of a shop in the future, continue within the limitations to order stock. However, the sales thus created keep the Brewers afloat also, may make it harder for the Cathedral to get the Brewers out, and by keeping swimming shows no concern for those already drowned/sacked and those gripping on to life rafts. Bloggers, what do you think is the right course of action for the staff in Durham?
Matt Wills // September 19, 2008 at 11:57 pm |
If i were working at durham, i’d carry on doing my job and hope that good prevails in the end. if SSG collapses on a national basis then i expect it’ll be very easy for the cathedral to reclaim the shop for its own.
Quest for Enlightenment « SPCK/SSG: News, Notes & Info // September 20, 2008 at 11:14 pm |
[...] Petition ← St Stephen the Great – Case Management Discussion 18/9/08 [...]
EZRA // September 20, 2008 at 11:19 pm |
Sorry, Matt, but that is easy enough for an outsider to say, but isn`t at all helpful to those on the inside. How long do you think the staff have just carried on doing their jobs. Better if you were to ask everyone reading this blog to pray really hard for the 2 members of staff who are too foolish and deluded to take the right direction. And then pray for their right minded colleagues who have to work day by day alongside them.
Matt Wills // September 20, 2008 at 11:25 pm |
Point taken- I just couldn’t think of any other course of action to suggest, but its certainly not a course that i favour. Which is really sad
And that’s only what i’d do that i’ve put there. I just can’t think of any other approach. can you?
justflyingkites // September 21, 2008 at 10:31 am |
There’s something strange about Durham. Seems like some don’t like the petition and are doing all kinds of things to keep SSG going. I don’t blame them. If the Dean and Chapter are leaving them to do the dirty work, they should just do the dirty work. They should follow Phil Brewer’s instructions to the tee. I don’t play golf. These workers look like pet poodles to me, pet poodles of the Dean and Chapter and pet poodles of Saint Stephen the Great.
Questioner // September 21, 2008 at 11:54 am |
It would be interesting to know whether the Dean and Chapter of Durham have informed the shop staff of their intentions for the future of the shop, whether they are pro or anti SSG. That way staff might have a clue as to the best way to proceed. At present there would seem to be an element of divide and rule taking place.
justflyingkites // September 21, 2008 at 12:27 pm |
Dean and Chapter tell pet poodles what their intentions are? You’re kidding me.
asingleblog // September 21, 2008 at 1:23 pm |
Questioner, maybe a call to the managers at the Durham Cathedral Shop will answer your questions.
Phil Groom // September 21, 2008 at 2:07 pm |
Two things are clear:
1. The situation at Durham is far from straightforward for any of those involved, whether on the shop floor or in the higher echelons.
2. The Brewers cannot be trusted.
As for everyone else, I suspect that the Dean and Chapter may not know who amongst the shop staff they can trust, and that the shop staff don’t know who they can trust either… so it ends up with nobody being entirely open with anyone else and the fear and distrust feeds upon itself and grows: it is, as Questioner points out, classic ‘divide and rule’ tactics — keep everyone on the edge, keep everyone afraid.
Pet poodles? Poodles tend to be cosseted and spoilt: I don’t see much of that going on in the Brewers’ little empire…
justflyingkites // September 21, 2008 at 2:51 pm |
Durham bookshop keeps SSG going. Would you like a copy of the contract?
Phil Groom // September 21, 2008 at 3:34 pm |
Why not? Something else to add to the dossier… then feed through the shredder…
Curious // September 21, 2008 at 3:51 pm |
They are just pawns. Its all terribly sad what is happening in Durham.
Valiant for Truth // September 21, 2008 at 4:24 pm |
The shredder is the right place for the contract if the current petition assists the Dean & Chapter replace the Brewers with new management and a new contract. Speaking of the petition, over 200 people have now said this is what they believe to be right, so are they also to be let down and ignored?
Matt Wills // September 21, 2008 at 4:41 pm |
Such is the demise of a once great bookshop chain…
Phil Groom // September 21, 2008 at 5:01 pm |
VfT: I last forwarded the petition to the Dean at the 200 signatures mark. My commitment remains to resubmit it whenever we reach a multiple of 50 — please continue to spread the word about it to help keep it alive.
If they haven’t arrived yet, there will soon be a new influx of students in Durham: if you or anyone else there have contacts within the university (particularly within the theology department), please make the most of them: let’s get the petition mentioned in student newsletters and linked to from blogs, maybe even highlighted in freshers’ handbooks…
Anyone reading who has a personal blog: please consider posting about this if you haven’t already done so; even better, put a permanent link to this page or direct to the petition in your sidebar or other blog navigation.
It’s essentially up to us — up to everyone reading — to make this as high profile online as we can; and for those who live in and near Durham, to pursue it via traditional print media too: local press, church & community magazines etc…
Thank you.
Matt Wills // September 21, 2008 at 5:47 pm |
Spreading this page link as wide as possible is a good idea. Have already added the link to my own blog’s sidebar.
Durham Cathedral Bookshop: One Month On « SPCK/SSG: News, Notes & Info // September 22, 2008 at 7:02 am |
[...] Durham [...]
Durham Cathedral Bookshop: Mark Brewer Responds « SPCK/SSG: News, Notes & Info // September 24, 2008 at 5:41 am |
[...] Durham [...]
Dealing with Debt - Philip Brewer Style « SPCK/SSG: News, Notes & Info // October 10, 2008 at 8:47 pm |
[...] Durham [...]
From Salisbury to York « SPCK/SSG: News, Notes & Info // October 25, 2008 at 1:25 am |
[...] Durham [...]
Durham Cathedral Bookshop: A Case Study in Dealing with Debt - Philip Brewer Style « SPCK/SSG: News, Notes & Info // November 19, 2008 at 9:43 am |
[...] Durham [...]
Michael // November 29, 2008 at 3:43 pm |
For the avoidance of doubt:
I need to state once again that the Cathedral Chaper does not manage the shop in its Great Kichen. This is run as a franchise subject to strict business law, as it was in the days of SPCK. Not all petitioners appear to be clear that a franchise is a formal, legal arrangement to which the parties to it are bound.
I ask petitioner no. 273 (Daid Baxter) to note that this “business within the Cathedral” is NOT managed, is NOT controlled and is NOT run by the Cathedral itself. His comment that “letters sent to the Cathedral authorities go unanswered” is incorrect and I ask him to withdraw it. Whatever he means by this, I can assure him and everyone else that all correspondence addressed to the Cathdral is responded to efficiently and professionally (and, I need not add, all its debts are paid when due).
Michael Sadgrove
Dean
For the Avoidance of Doubt: Important Message from the Dean of Durham « SPCK/SSG: News, Notes & Info // November 29, 2008 at 5:20 pm |
[...] November 29, 2008, 3:43pm [...]
Durham Cathedral Shop: The Story That Won’t Go Away! « SPCK/SSG: News, Notes & Info // December 5, 2008 at 9:50 pm |
[...] Durham [...]
absit invidia verbo // December 6, 2008 at 9:50 pm |
[...] petition has been building calling on the Chapter of Durham Cathedral to try and find some way of turfing SSG out and [...]
GroomNews Christmas 2008 « Phil’s Boring Blog // December 7, 2008 at 11:07 pm |
[...] as I write this newsletter, we’re taking a long, hard look at the Durham Cathedral Shop. To describe things as ‘messy’ is putting it very mildly… [...]
Acceptance Speech for The Superior Scribbler Award « SPCK/SSG: News, Notes & Info // December 15, 2008 at 5:31 am |
[...] Durham [...]
Dave // December 17, 2008 at 9:09 pm |
just to let every know there is an advert for Thirdspace books in the middlesbrough Catholic Directory with the adress of Durham Cathedral
asingleblog // December 17, 2008 at 9:26 pm |
Whaaat?
asingleblog // December 17, 2008 at 9:40 pm |
Dave can’t find a link. The Dean and Chapter would need it.
Justice // December 17, 2008 at 10:17 pm |
Im looking, but connot find, The Dean and Chapter,will be horrified.,must be a mistake.
asingleblog // December 17, 2008 at 10:20 pm |
I’m using Mousey’s cat’s whiskers and saying all this tastes fishy.
Justice // December 17, 2008 at 10:34 pm |
Very fishy, will have to get Sherlock Holmes on to this one.
Phil Groom // December 18, 2008 at 8:16 am |
I’ve emailed Dave for more info…
Pages Rearranged « SPCK/SSG: News, Notes & Info // December 28, 2008 at 8:24 pm |
[...] Durham [...]
Chichester, Durham, Third Space Books: Updating UKCBD Entries « SPCK/SSG: News, Notes & Info // January 8, 2009 at 12:17 am |
[...] Durham [...]
MOUSEY // January 23, 2009 at 12:34 pm |
When, o when, will number 350 sign the petition????
RevEv // January 23, 2009 at 2:04 pm |
Signed!
MOUSEY // January 25, 2009 at 12:39 pm |
Thanks, RevEv. Most of the staff of the shop will be grateful for your support.
asingleblog // January 25, 2009 at 6:05 pm |
Thanks, RevEv.
RevEv // January 30, 2009 at 12:08 pm |
Most! Do you mean there are staff at Durham who actually want the situation to stay the same.
Lead them to the padded cell, please!
100,000 Pageviews… and Still Counting! « SPCK/SSG: News, Notes & Info // January 31, 2009 at 5:51 am |
[...] Durham [...]
Ratty // February 1, 2009 at 12:00 pm |
Sadly, Mousey is correct, and if there had been a better attitude from some, ie. fight not flight form reality, the Brewers could have been long gone from Durham.
Aequitas // February 1, 2009 at 8:12 pm |
Rev Ev, they could have been out months ago ,some bury there head!s in the sand.
MOUSEY // February 4, 2009 at 6:23 pm |
Ciao Ratty. You must be my Big Brother or Sister, eh?
EZRA // April 9, 2009 at 10:58 am |
MAUNDY Thurs is a busy day at Durham Cathedral but spare a thought for the bookshop staff at this time:
Lighten their darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord;
and by thy great mercy defend them
from all perils, dangers
and other effects
of long-term hope deferred
in their current, miserable situation.
May they be treated fairly and justly
by those ordained or appointed to your service,
for the love of your only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
AMEN
Response to Durham Cathedral expulsion of Shop Lessee from Durham Cathedral Shop | The Wardman Wire // May 5, 2009 at 8:45 am |
[...] to a new company — also registered to the Brewers — called ‘ENC Management Company’. The Durham and Chichester shops appear to have been reconstituted as independent trading companies but remain [...]
Durham Cathedral Bookshop: Cause to Celebrate, Cause for Concern « SPCK/SSG: News, Notes & Info // May 6, 2009 at 5:44 am |
[...] Finally, I would also like to thank all those who signed the Durham petition calling for this action. The petition will now be formally closed and over the next few days all signatories will be notified of this development. [...]
Response to Durham Cathedral expulsion of Shop Lessee from Durham Cathedral Shop « SPCK/SSG: News, Notes & Info // May 6, 2009 at 11:02 pm |
[...] Durham [...]
Durham: watching, waiting… « SPCK/SSG: News, Notes & Info // June 4, 2009 at 6:04 pm |
[...] Durham [...]