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St Mark’s church |
'COMMERCIAL VULTURISM'
Campaigners fight to save historic church from becoming spa
THE fate of a historic Mayfair church where William Willberforce once preached hangs in the balance after campaigners mounted a last-ditch attempt to block plans that could see it transformed into a health spa.
The campaign to save Grade I-listed St Mark’s church in North Audley Street, visited by Dwight Eisenhower and Eleanor Roosevelt, is putting pressure on planning chiefs ahead of a crunch meeting that could sign its death warrant.
Under the proposals, the church’s historical altar, where Eisenhower mapped out the D-Day Normandy landings and the abolitionist William Wilberforce launched his anti-slavery movement, will become a juice bar and plunge pools will replace the pews.
The Save St Mark’s Action Group, which counts a number of high-profile figures among its ranks, is trying to derail the developer’s plans for the Wellness Centre, which they claim would be “sacrilege” should it be approved.
The man behind the plans, George Hammer, lives in the vicarage next door to the building, off Grosvenor Square. He is contracted by owners the Diocese of London to refurbish the decrepit bulding which dates back to 1825 and is ranked fifth in English Heritage’s list of most at risk buildings.
The proposals, which have already been twice thrown out at the committee stage last year, include a cafe and swimming pool as well as forming part of an extension to Mr Hammer’s house. A date is yet to be set for the meeting but it is expected to go before Westminster’s planning committee next month.
It is understood that should the plans get the green light, the Diocese would then sell the building to Mr Hammer at a vast profit.
The 120-strong congregation of the church have until next month to find a new home despite the fact that planning permission is yet to be granted.
Kirk Mitchell, who is spearheading the campaign said: “We feel betrayed by the Diocese and will fight to see the building used for service to the wider community rather than just pampering the few who can afford it. They literally want to replace our heritage with commercial vulturalism. We are deeply worried about the threat to what is one Britain’s architectural gems.”
A 1000-signature petition was submitted to Westminster Council earlier in the year, and hundreds more are expected to flood the council’s planning department with a deluge of objections. The Church of England owns the buliding that was officially declared redundant in 1974. It was reopened 15 years ago after Pastor Ed Hornback founded the Commonwealth Christian Fellowship.
A Diocese of London spokesperson said:
“The church of St Mark’s Audley Street has been a redundant church for the past 30 years. Over the years the Diocese of London explored a number of options to secure the building’s long-term future and finally entered into a contractual agreement with Mr George Hammer in 2005. Mr Hammer’s proposal will restore and enhance this important grade 1 list building. Notice has been served on The Commonwealth Christian Fellowship, who are very grateful that they have been able to worship at St Mark’s for two years longer than expected”.
Mr Hammer was unavailable for comment. |
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