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'Mega-church' near Olympics site rejected by planners
Mira Bar-Hillel, Property Correspondent29.01.08
Plans for a US-style evangelical "mega-church" near the Olympics site have been rejected by a London council.
Havering has turned down plans for the £70 million complex, which would have seated 8,000 worshippers.
The plans for the church had been submitted by Kingsway International Christian Centre after it was paid £13.5 million by the London Development Agency to leave its Hackney headquarters to make way for the 2012 Olympics.
Havering councillors unanimously objected to the proposal because of the inadequacy of local transport and conflict with the strategic employment policy for the area.
However, the "mega-church" could still get the go-ahead if the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation gives it the green light next month.
The Christian centre was founded 15 years ago and is thought to be Europe's fastest growing church.
Its charismatic Nigerian founder Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo was ordered to pay back £200,000 to the church after a Charity Commission investigation found he had used a church credit card to buy a Florida timeshare and received £120,000 to celebrate his birthday, including an £80,000 car.
Hundreds of thousands of pounds were also transferred abroad, the commission found, "with little supporting documentation".
New trustees and management structures have since been put in place, and the church is keen to stress the problems have been put behind it.
Mr Ashimolowo, 55, is a convert from Islam. He founded the KICC in 1992 with 200 members.
Reader views (7)
Although I don't live in the actual area, i felt that the decision was appropriate due to fact that having this kind of church in the area will lead to congestion which people have to endure during the week. If these people feel that they need more space to expand their church there is enough empty churchs around the country all they need is to break up into a small congregation.
- Titilayo Idowu, Dagenham essex
I agree fully with the above comments and thanks for keeping us updated ES.
As it now transpires that the Kingsway 'Christian' hierarchy are proposing to move to Kingston, Surrey, I feel perfectly entitled to oppose this highly dubious church.
'Nigeria' should have been a vital clue, Christian however is just the smoke screen and scurrilous LDA officials have merely disguised the true intent of these 'evangelical money grabbers' no doubt with kickbacks guaranteed all the way.
If they are legitimate and obey the law, there should be no problem; however, a 'church' that grows so rapidly off the hard work of its pitifully credulous congregation should not be allowed anywhere in Surrey.
It is now a sad fact that religion and criminal activity seem to go hand in hand, it is therefore sadly necessary to examine every aspect of such proposals in order to protect those incapable of recognising reality and the rest of us from corrupt local politicians.
- Graham Clarke, Staines, England
Although Havering have turned this down, the residents have to wait for the LTGDC to vote on the appeal by the KICC. I can only see many disadvantages and disruptions to the residents/businesses of Rainham in bringing this church to our area and hope that the influence Lee Jasper appears to have over the LDA, who offered the land to the KICC knowing the strategic policy for it, will no way reflect on the decision of the LTGDC.
- Jean, Rainham
This development would be wholly inappropriate in the middle of a business / industrial park. They are also still talking about putting a prison here too! So the LDA buy land to create industry, and then encourage a giant church and a prison. I feel the land was bought under false pretences, using public money, to solve all their little 'problems' they have no home for.
- Liz Bennett, Rainham, Essex
The London Borough of Havering unanimously rejected the KICC's planning application having carried out a very detailed and fair examination of their transport plan for getting their congregation to the site which has no transport links. Their report covered 32 pages and concluded their transport plan did not work and the church would have bought traffic chaos to the whole area. This is a strategic employment area and the KICC's plan would have cost the area jobs as many existing businesses would have been forced to relocate. The role the LDA has played in suggesting putting a mega-church in the middle of a business area should certainly be investigated along with the many other strange decisions they have made which have been so excellently reported in your paper.
- Madeleine Tyler, Havering
One has to smile, especially at the latter part of this report. I wonder if the plans for the "largest mosque in Europe" is still being considered close to the same site? I look forward to seeing the outcome of this planning application.
- Gary, Surrey, UK
Absolutely right too, what is the point of a building devoted to the telling of fairy tales? Surely these are taught in schools and should be something we grow out of when we become mentally mature?
- T Cruise, London
