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Row over plan to turn listed Mayfair church into spa
Elizabeth Hopkirk, Evening Standard12 Sep 2008
A row has broken out over plans to turn a Grade I-listed church in Mayfair into a spa.
Multi-millionaire George Hammer, who founded The Sanctuary in Covent Garden, wants to turn the Georgian building into a "wellness centre".
He says it is the only way of saving the crumbling Greek Revival building, which has been on English Heritage's Buildings-at-Risk register for 20 years.
But worshippers at St Mark's Church in North Audley Street and local residents, including Lady Sainsbury and actors Ray Emmet Brown and Gary Beadle, are campaigning to keep it as a church and say it plays a vital role in the community.
Lady Sainsbury, wife of former government minister Sir Tim Sainsbury, is president of the Save St Mark's Action Group and regularly attends the church's women's group.
She said: "It's a wonderful Grade Ilisted building with a tremendous history. It's a terrible indictment on society and on the Church if we are not able to keep this wonderful place open when there is a vibrant congregation there. I feel very strongly about it."
St Mark's was built in 1824 and during the Second World War became a centre for American worshippers. It was visited by both President Dwight Eisenhower and Eleanor Roosevelt.
But during the Fifties and Sixties the congregation dwindled and the church was declared redundant in 1974. Since 1994 the Diocese of London has allowed an independent charismatic church to meet there. The Commonwealth Christian Fellowship has a congregation of around 120 and campaigners say it is active in the community, with antiknife crime training for teenagers and home visits for elderly people.
They want it to remain a place of worship but the Diocese of London has signed a deal with Mr Hammer, giving him a 112-year lease subject to Westminster council approving his plans. Under the deal he would pay to restore the building, and then pay an annual rent of £100,000. The church has now been given notice to quit.
Holby City actor Ray Emmet Brown, who lives in Mayfair and worships at St Mark's, where he was married in 2005, said: "The church is a massive benefit for this community. We are a strange community, living in the heart of commercial London, so anybody that's aimed at bringing people together without lookingfor financial reward is a good thing. "I don't know why this area needs another spa or leisure centre in place of something that will help to keep community spirit alive."
Kirk Mitchell, co-ordinator of the Save St Mark's Action Group, which has a 1,000-signature petition, said: "We are trying to preserve the building as a place of worship for the community. We are thoroughly opposed to any commercial vulturism. It's appalling that the finest church of its kind in the country is being sold to a businessman." But Mr Hammer, whose empire includes Urban Retreat at Harrods and who lives next door to the church, said many residents support his plans.
He said: "Commonwealth Church don't want to leave because they don't have to pay rent. But their practitioners aren't local so they could go anywhere. No church has found a sustainable use for the building but we have agreed to spend several million to bring it back into proper community use and to refurbish it so there will be no further deterioration. We have been very careful to keep all the important architectural features in place."
Mr Hammer, 58, ex-husband of makeup artist Ruby Hammer, said he wants to open an alternative health medical centre, not a spa, and would give discounts to local people.
A Diocese of London spokesman said: "Mr Hammer's proposal will restore and enhance this important Grade I-listed building."
Reader views (5)
I walk past this "Church" regularly and from the outside it looks like it should be condemned. There are always a number of vagrants sleeping under the covered area and the amount of litter that collects there is disgraceful. What does the “congregation do about this…nothing! Let George Hammer do something constructive with the building, he at least will restore it to its former glory and it won’t be replaced by some hideous glass monstrosity.
- Nicky, London, 07/10/2009 12:54
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I hope that we don't have to close down the church. The church is crucial place for everyone rich and poor where they can come with their needs and receive support and healing in their hearts and spirit. it is much more then external therapy. I think that spa should be developed as well but surely not in church as it is a place for God's glory where people can be restored healed and learn how to overcome difficulties.
Spa is something more external which is good but first people need to receive a touch in their heart so the wounds can be healed before they even want to look after their bodies.
It is time to stand up for the goodness of this land. Let no more churches be closed but restored reaching the needs of people in inner healing. And this is what St Marks church is offering.
- Gosia, london, 07/10/2009 11:54
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The comments on this site are amazing - even things nothing to do with Muslims or immigrants elicit ridiculous comments like the one from Charlie. The only reason this can go ahead is presumably because the people owning the freehold to the Church are allowing it to happen. If more people went to Church or contributed then they could keep it open. Sir Tim Sainsbury could afford to buy it outright if he wanted to. But no, let's just use this as an opportunity to slag off the Muzzas.
- Saunaing Tic Gill, London, 07/10/2009 11:54
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That is disgraceful. I doubt they would give planning permission to convert a mosque!!
- Charlie, London, 07/10/2009 11:54
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What a refreshing and balanced post Saunaing. Weather or not this is a good or bad thing, Charlies post is simply naive and bordering on racist. This doesn't have anything to do with mosques, why try and start an argument? its sad that this settled parish will be uprooted, especially as it seems that they are doing a lot of good in the community, but i suppose its for the owners of the building to decide, its not a political issue.
- Sean Kirwin, London, 07/10/2009 11:54
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