Meanwhile, a group of Jesus College alumni who opposed the plans told the court that removing the memorial would also be an “empty gesture” that would do nothing to address the real problems of racism and discrimination in the present day.

Over the past week, Lambeth Palace has received several letters from concerned individuals who believe that the Archbishop’s remarks were “out of order”.

“He is putting unreasonable pressure on the judge and this could be grounds for declaring a mistrial,” one source told The Telegraph.

“This could look like a rather clumsy attempt to influence the decision and it is not appropriate. We would like the judge to have a clean desk while he considers this. He should withdraw comments and apologise.”

The letters were prompted by comments Archbishop Welby made at the General Synod on Feb 8, when he said: “Why is it so much agony to remove a memorial to slavery that sits in front of the [Master] of a college, Jesus College, Cambridge, who has to look at it every time she sits in her stall?

“Why is it so difficult to do that? Why do they have to go through hearing how it ‘doesn’t really matter’ or it is ‘not strictly accurate’ and so on, but all they want to do is put it somewhere safer where they can comment on it, not to blow it up?”

Rustat donated £2,000 to Jesus College, his father’s alma mater, in 1671 for scholarships for orphan sons of Anglican clergymen.