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Protest: Lady Sainsbury with the megaphone rallies campaigners outside the diocese HQ |
‘Sale of St Mark’s is not sound finance or sound Christianity’
Lady Sainsbury leads protesters angry at decision of diocese to sell church
ROBUST hymn-singing is not unusual in the church, but staff at the Diocese of London had not heard it quite like this before.
Megaphone in hand, Lady Sainsbury led the impromptu choir of her Save St Mark’s Action group through a medley of hymns on the steps of diocese HQ in Pimlico to protest its decision to go ahead with the sale of St Mark’s Church to developer George Hammer.
The diocesan finance committee met on Monday afternoon formally to back Mr Hammer’s bid to transform the grade-I listed building into an alternative health centre.
The supermarket heiress and wife of former Conservative minister Sir Tim Sainsbury said her campaign would “continue to fight for as long as it takes” to halt the “cash cow” sell-off of the church in North Audley Street.
With the 115-year lease secure, Mr Hammer is now responsible for appealing last year’s decision by Westminster City Council to reject his plans for a “Wellness Centre”.
The decision comes in the same week that one of the Church of England’s most influential clergymen launched an unprecedented attack on his own diocese over the debacle.
Reverend Nicky Gumbel, the evangelical pioneer behind the Alpha Programme, said his Holy Trinity Brompton church needed the space and has offered to buy St Mark’s.
It is the first time anyone at Holy Trinity has confirmed that an offer has been made, fuelling speculation that the diocese is privately embarrassed.
Lady Sainsbury said: “As president of Save St Mark’s Action Group, I want to register my solemn pledge that if they do decide to sell it for a few pieces of silver to George Hammer, we will continue to fight for as long as it takes.
“We don’t enjoy opposing our own diocese. Many of us are Christians and want God to be honoured.
“We understand the need for financial prudence, of course we do. But we do not believe a quick sale to beat the recession is either wise or Christian.
“The community and the council want St Mark’s to remain as a church. How ironic it is that the diocese seems to want it as a cash cow. Yet income from a really lively congregation would be as much as what we understand Hammer Holdings is offering for the lease. A decision to sell the lease today is neither sound finance nor sound Christianity.”
The Archdeacon of Charing Cross Dr William Jacob said: “George Hammer’s proposals for the church would involve millions of pounds being spent on the restoration of the building, naturally adhering to all the necessary planning and heritage requirements.
“This is how St Mark’s can be saved.” |
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