I went to St Peter's, admittedly a few years ago now. It comes as a complete surprise that its founding principles include “teaching of and in Christian principles and doctrine”. The only time I ever heard that the Chaplain's services were required were when ex-students wanted to get married in the chapel.

As Paul says, a redundancy is not the same as a dismissal. Sad for the Catering Manager, though St Peter's was never famous for its culinary expertise. Good to hear that the college is finally getting its finances in order though.

David Abbott, Karachi, Pakistan

Surely the chaplain wasn't "sacked" as you headline proclaims: he was made redundant or rather his position was. These are completely different things. One is news-worthy, the other not.

Thousands of people are made redundant every year in cost-cutting drives. Not all of them are truly redundant but victims of a harsh financial reality. Maybe it will give the students an insight to life in the real world.

Paul, Reading, UK

For the religiously inclined only? (Martin, York) I think the whole point is that having a full-time chaplain in the community shows that the college takes seriously the development of the entire person. Even for the less "religiously inclined" the college chaplain is often the one called upon for weddings, baptisms, funerals or family tragedies- and this for years after they leave university. I think this is a genuine loss for the students and alumni of St. Peter's.

Katy, Minneapolis, USA

When I was at university I don't remember anyone I knew ever visiting the chaplain. For the religiously inclined there is always access to religious personnel in the community. For the same reason I suggest that most hospital chaplains would not be missed - those with strong faith could always arrange a visit from their own church communities and the money saved help to fund front line medical services

Martin, York, UK

As a recent alumnus of St Peter's, I was very saddened to hear of Andrew Moore's departure. As a Christian student, I had great respect for Andrew as a faithful minister, and was privileged to call him a friend; but as far as I know, all in College who knew him, regardless of their own belief system, respected and liked the man immensely. He was not a remote member of academic staff, but a genuine friend of the student body, who took his pastoral role with great seriousness and sensitivity, and who cared deeply for all those in his care, whether Christian or not. Andrew's integrity was superb, and he was one of the few chaplains who combined sensitive and effective pastoral care in the diverse population of an Oxford college, with a Christian ministry faithful to the Bible and which did not compromise his own convictions.

Whether or not the College's decision to make his position redundant was correct, I know he has been sorely missed by nearly all who knew him at St Peter's.

CK, London,

Apart from the obvious conflict of interest noted in the report, a glance at the reports of the funding campaigns of the college over the last years shows that a large number of donors to its funds and library are graduates of the college, many of whom are clergymen or working in Christian ministry.

The dismissal of the chaplain undermines confidence in the college's standing as a Christian foundation and will therefore inevitably affect such financial support.

Among its graduates the college numbers the current Bishops of Oxford and Basingstoke, an Archbishop in New Zealand, a former chief secretary of the Church Army, a former secretary of the Board of Mission of the Church of England, the director of the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion Cambridge, the principal of Regents Park College Oxford and senior staff of the Church Mission Society.

Chris Sugden, Oxford,

Apart from the obvious conflict of interest noted in the report, a glance at the reports of the funding campaigns of the college over the last years shows that a large number of donors to its funds and library are graduates of the college, many of whom are clergymen or working in Christian ministry.

The dismissal of the chaplain undermines confidence in the college's standing as a Christian foundation and will therefore inevitably affect such financial support.

Among its graduates the college numbers the current Bishops of Oxford and Basingstoke, an Archbishop in New Zealand, a former chief secretary of the Church Army, a former secretary of the Board of Mission of the Church of England, the director of the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, the principal of Regents Park College and senior staff of the Church Mission Society.

Chris Sugden, Oxford,