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A shocked congregation today criticised a beauty magnate who staged a "saucy" catwalk show in their former church on a Sunday.
Multi-millionaire George Hammer, who owns the lease for St Mark's, Mayfair, and plans to turn it into a health retreat, offered it to Antonio Berardi for his London Fashion Week show.
Campaigners who want the Grade I-listed building to be saved as a church say the designer - a favourite of Victoria Beckham and Kylie Minogue - used it to parade flesh-coloured bras, see-through corsets and skimpy dresses.
Kirk Mitchell, of the Save St Mark's Action Group, said it was the ultimate insult to their faith. "This is George Hammer's view of what's sacred to God - a great backdrop for a money-spinner."
Mayfair resident Jane Williams, who is supporting the campaign, said: "It was totally inappropriate to use a building of this nature for a beauty parade of half-naked women. Some of the outfits were very risqué and saucy. There were even a few eyebrows raised among the critics."
One called it "an unholy spectacle of sexiness" and another said there was "more va-va-voom than seemed decent for a Sunday".
Mr Hammer, 60, who founded The Sanctuary in Covent Garden, said the group was being "childish and ridiculous".
"There was no nudity. We are talking a few flesh-coloured body stockings and some frilly knickers. It is hardly anything to get worked up about. There is more nudity in a stained-glass window than there was on that catwalk."
Mr Hammer has fought with the congregation since he agreed with the Diocese of London four years ago to take a 112-year lease on the 19th-century church, paying an annual rent of £100,000 to restore it.
Shortly after the deal was struck, he submitted a proposal to Westminster council to create a "wellness centre", which was rejected last year after campaigners stormed a planning meeting and declared the scheme "tantamount to sacrilege" - branding Mr Hammer "Judas". A public inquiry is hearing an appeal until next month.
Mr Hammer said: "Save St Mark's Action group will bus in a load of people with posters, placards and lots of noise. I think they have lost sight of what it is they are trying to achieve.
"When I took over the lease the church was a crumbling wreck, not even safe to enter without a hard hat. My team have replaced the electrics and pipe work so it is no longer at risk of fire and flood. We have also repaired the ceiling."
He said the building had planning permission to be used to host events.
"Antonio Berardi thought it would make an interesting venue for his show. I wasn't about to turn him down - all the money we were paid by him will be reinvested in the building."
He said that if his appeal failed, he would look at other options but would not return it to the congregation.
Reader views (4)
What a bunch of hypocrites!
This is a drop in the ocean, compared to the 'holier-than=thou' paedophile and rapist priests who appear to be regular fixtures in the church over the last 40 or so years.
- Nowan King, London, 09/10/2009 09:25
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A small poem for those who are offended:
I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor...
But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp--
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash.
There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbour
Who never said anything nice.
Herb, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well.
I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must've made a mistake.
'And why's everyone so quiet,
So somber - give me a clue.'
'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock..
No one thought they'd be seeing you.'
JUDGE NOT...
Remember...Just going to church doesn't make you a
Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a mechanic or a car...
Only intolerence is offensive.
- Dannyp, Egham, 09/10/2009 08:11
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Ummmm - didn't it say "their former church..."? You know, as in, "not any longer their church but the property of others who can use it as they like as long as it's legal"?
- Rogan, Irving, 08/10/2009 15:48
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What sort of crooks are employed by the C Of E? How did a fully functioning church come to be sold to this insensitive sleazebag in the first place?
- Ursula Corbridge, London, UK, 08/10/2009 13:17
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