A group of clergy, academics, and church-related figures have written to the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral in London, asking them to openly oppose a forcible eviction of Occupy supporters from outside the Cathedral.

The move comes as the Occupy camp, which has been in place for five months, faces an eviction order that may be implemented as soon as next week, depending on the outcome of a petition to the Court of Appeal.

The high-profile Occupy London encampment is part of a global initiative opposing corporate corruption and economic injustice which has drawn together a large movement of people, including Christians and other religious groups.

The letter to St Paul's has an initial 15 signatories, and has been organised by Church Peace ("connecting the church with the dissenting community") and the Christian thinktank Ekklesia.

It declares: "We are very much concerned for the impact on the Church as well as the camp of a forcible eviction. The Name of Christ will not be honoured by such an action, and the stance of the Cathedral will be seen as being at least in part responsible.

"We do not believe that the Church should ever be in a position where it is identified with oppression. Its mission and ministry is, rather, about freeing people.

"We therefore hope that the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral will make a public statement saying that they do not support a forced eviction of the Occupy camp."

Priest and journalist the Rev George Pitcher and Oxford biblical scholar Professor Chris Rowland are among those who have joined the appeal to St Paul's. More will be joining it over the next few days.

Christians have also pledged to form a 'circle of prayer' to oppose eviction.