A LEADING York Minster fundraiser today threatened to withdraw his help unless there is an independent investigation into the cathedral's finances.

Professor Philip Stell, from Haxby, who is terminally ill with leukaemia, made the demand in writing to the Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, after reading Canon John Toy's revelations in Thursday's Evening Press.

Canon Toy, who retired from Minster duties in 1999, revealed the "misguided extravagance" at the cathedral during its descent into financial crisis.

He spoke of his regret at accepting "over-generous perks" while Raymond Furnell was Dean of York, including membership of a gentlemen's club near the Houses of Parliament, costing up to £400 a year.

He also believed money "wasted" on such things as using caterers at the Deanery and expensive hotels showed a contempt for people who had donated money to the Minster.

York Minster chiefs will make a decision early next week on whether to introduce compulsory admission charges for the first time and close the Minster library, in an attempt to stop the cathedral losing half a million pounds a year.

In his letter to Dr Hope, Professor Stell, who has raised thousands of pounds for the cathedral, demands assurances that the money was used for specific Minster library projects and not just "absorbed into general funds".

He says: "In the light of recent revelations in the Evening Press, presumably the funds could have been used for things that I would not necessarily approve of.

"As a staunch supporter of the Church of England for more than 50 years I'm dismayed to have to face the prospect that I might not be able to trust the Minster."

A spokesman for York Minster said a statement would be issued early next week about the current crisis, after discussion between the Dean and Chapter and the Archbishop.

"The Minster will have to do a lot to regain the trust of the people," said Mr Stell, who has also written to the Minster finance officer and the acting Dean, Canon Glyn Webster.

"Confidence will only be restored after a thorough investigation of its finances by an independent body such as the Charity Commission."

Updated: 12:52 Saturday, June 21, 2003