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A beauty magnate at war with a congregation over his plans to turn their church into a spa has found an unlikely ally.
Multimillionaire George Hammer - who founded the Sanctuary in Covent Garden - hopes to strike a deal with the parish priest of Mayfair over a proposal to turn 19th-century church StMark's into a health retreat.
Mr Hammer's plan for the Grade I listed building looked set to fail after campaigners called it "sacrilegious" and Westminster council rejected a planning application last year.
But the Rev Roderick Leece, who runs nearby St George's in Hanover Square, has offered to take in former St Mark's worshippers in return for Mr Hammer's help with his own church.
Mr Leece has praised the plan for a spa as a "viable alternative" use for St Mark's which has been on the English Heritage buildings at risk register for years.
In return, he hopes to use St Mark's, also in Mayfair, as a temporary home for his worshippers while St George's undergoes a £2.5 million renovation to accommodate a larger congregation.
Mr Leece said: "The building has been out of Church of England use for 30 years. It is decaying and it's not financially viable for the diocese to bring it back to life.
"There are lots of churches within minutes of St Mark's, there is no need for another one and Mr Hammer is the man to save this building and turn it into something wonderful." St George's closes in April for nine months while the repairs are carried out.
The St Mark's Action Group, led by Lady Sainsbury, has attacked the deal. Mayfair resident Jane Williams, said she could not see the point of moving to another church when St Mark's could be saved.
But Mr Hammer said: "They [the campaigners] have lost sight of what it is they are trying to achieve. This was a wreck when I took it over and I have already invested time and money to protect it from further damage."
Reader views (1)
The COE have already sold this building as it was not viable to bring back to use. What right do the old congregation have to determine how is will now be used.
They should have protested before the COE sold it. Mayfair is not a huge area - let the old worshipers to go to another Church in Mayfair. The not in my back yard brigade strikes again.
Surely it would be better to bring this building back to life - they want to develop into a upmarket spa - not a lapdancing venue or nightclub. I don't see what the problems is.
- Lawrence, London, 17/11/2009 13:23
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