Cambridge college denies it seeks to erase benefactor over slave trade links

The dean of the chapel told a hearing that undergraduates would be less likely to participate in the life of the chapel if the marble memorial remained there. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA

A Cambridge University college has denied that it is seeking to cancel the existence of one its most significant benefactors because of links to the slave trade while continuing to enjoy the benefits of his generosity.

Jesus College has applied to church authorities to remove a memorial to Tobias Rustat from a prominent position on the west wall of its Grade I-listed college chapel. The move follows an inquiry by a legacy of slavery working party set up to review the college’s historical links to enslavement and its long term impact.