OXFORD A University of Oxford college denied yesterday that its decision to close was related to a scathing assessment in a recent university review.

The Times reported yesterday that Greyfriars Hall, one of seven theological colleges at the university, is to close at the end of the academic year. The decision by the Capuchin Franciscan Friars to withdraw from the university comes after a report by Oxford’s former Vice-Chancellor that said Greyfriars was “struggling against the odds”. Brother James Boner, Provincial Minister of the Capuchin Franciscans, denied that the review had any bearing on the closure.

The Franciscan Friars said that the decision to close was made because of a shortage of friars and money. Brother Boner said that the friars had carried out their own review and concluded that they would be unable to continue to invest in Greyfriars.

The Hall’s 34 students will be transferred to Regent’s Park, another religious college. Greyfriars was best known for its annual “bop”, or party, known as the “Monastery of Sound”.

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