The trustees of Codrington College in Barbados have declined to renew the contract of the school’s dean, the Rev. Dr. Ian Rock.
The trustees of Codrington College in Barbados have declined to renew the contract of the school’s dean, the Rev. Dr. Ian Rock. While the chairman of the board of the Codrington Trust, West Indies Archbishop John Holder, declined to speak to the controversy, sources in Barbados report Dr. Rock was informed that his contract would not be renewed after ten years in office. The Rev. Dr. Michael Clarke, rector of St Thomas parish, has been tipped to take over the top spot at the 270-year old school. Formerly affiliated with the Durham University, Codrington College is the oldest Anglican theological seminary in the western hemisphere. The school was built in 1743 after Christopher Codrington bequeathed his estate to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel and requested the establishment of the College.Deteriorating church finances coupled with cutbacks in government education stipends for students have hurt the school in recent years, while the move away from centralized residential clergy training to local and distance learning programs have forced the trustees to rethink the school’s mission. Dr Rock was credited with turning round the administration of the school, but his management style was said to have alienated supporters and led to clashes with students.
