Camden News
Publications by New Journal Enterprises
spacer
  Home Archive Competition Jobs Tickets Accommodation Dating Contact us
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
Camden New Journal - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 7 August 2008
 
Church of the future

ONE of the jewels in the lovely residential ward of Cantelowes is undoubtedly Camden Square.
St Paul’s church, which occupied the top of the square with a very large “footprint”, was bombed in World War II.
Currently, there is a modest and run-down prefab housing a community meeting space and chapel, serving a tiny congregation. The Church of England appears to have identified an attractive commercial opportunity to build on this site with a property developer a couple of dozen or more new apartments, as well as another community facility and tiny chapel. Variations on a speculative design done by one of the church’s congregation, an architect, have recently been on display and have caused considerable local concerns. What I’m hearing from the residents is a consensus view (though not universal) that such a trophy site could benefit from alternative design ideas and what’s proposed is, frankly, Lego-like. I observe that the CofE retains another church nearby, St Lukes in Oseney Crescent (built in 1909), less than half a kilometre to the west. Regrettably, while still as I understand it consecrated, it remains very firmly padlocked at all times, denied to the local community despite preservation orders on both its floor and stained glass window. Would it not be more sensible for the Church to do something to reopen that for worshipers and free up the Camden Square site for a truly inspirational building without limitations?
Isn’t this a fantastic opportunity for a creative competition, not least for the dozens of architects who live in the immediate environs?
CLLR Paul Braithwaite
Lib Dem, Cantelowes ward

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, Camden New Journal, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@thecnj.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Tuesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment:


 

 
spacer














spacer


Theatre Music
Arts & Events Attractions
spacer
 
 


  up