| |
St Mark's Church |
Lines drawn for the battle of St Mark’s
Protagonists square up ahead of inquiry into health spa plan for historic Mayfair church
THE script is Shakesperean in its cast – a supermarket heiress, a property developer, a shadowy board of clergymen, the indefatigable congregation and even a couple of dead American presidents have figured in the soap opera of St Mark’s Church.
In less than two weeks the denouement will begin in earnest when all parties come together to give evidence at a public inquiry into the decision not to approve plans to transform the Grade I-listed landmark Mayfair church
(pictured) into a health spa.
If the protracted 18-month story of St Mark’s has been anything but black and white, one thing is for certain: there will be no shortage of biographers on hand to mark the card of the planning inspector – with white knight and ignominious villain, the two roles up for grabs.
Developer George Hammer already has the keys to the building in North Audley Street after signing a lease with the Diocese of London last month.
Should he win his appeal, brought about because Mr Hammer and the diocese complained that last December’s planning committee decision was politically motivated, he will press ahead with plans to strip the church of its pews and create a holistic “wellness centre”.
Under the plans, Mr Hammer, who is a self-confessed fitness addict, would open up the spa free of charge to local residents receiving treatment for cancer, as well as charging regular customers for massages and treatments.
The Save St Mark’s Action Group, headed by the wife of former Conservative minister Sir Tim Sainsbury, has been stepping up its campaign ahead of the five-day hearing at Westminster City Hall, beginning on October 7.
From the outset the group has said the church should remain a public building for the community of Mayfair, with some going as far as accusing the Diocese of London of sacrilege for instating a commercial venture in a building where William Wilberforce once preached and US presidents came to worship.
Their victory last year was sealed after the West End Extra helped unearth a little-known covenant, binding the building’s use to “ecclesiastical purposes forever”.
While it is ideological arguments that have bolstered their campaign, the inspector will only listen to the planning case against the development, which hinges on Westminster City Council’s policy and the small print of the original application.
The diocese says its decision to stick with Mr Hammer is a simple matter of economics. What with dwindling congregations and a depleted pot of money, it doesn’t have the £6million needed to restore the crumbling building, and must outsource the job to the private sector, it claims.
The Save St Mark’s group has never bought this argument, pointing out that the burgeoning church group Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) had an offer on the table that was ignored by the diocese.
While the arguments have raged, St Mark’s has suffered.
Since the erstwhile Christian Commonwealth Congregation vacated the building last year the church has rapidly deteriorated, with broken-off plaster littering the aisles, damp seeping in through the walls and leaks springing in the roof.
Since Mr Hammer was awarded the lease, he has set begun to carry out repairs including polishing and rewiring.
Kirk Mitchell, chairman of the Save St Mark’s campaign said: “We are expecting enormous support at the inquiry.
“The entire public in Mayfair from butchers to pubs, dance studios to delicatessens, are on our side. We have a barrister and we will argue our case.
“St Mark’s is a community building and it should stay that way – there is an ancient covenant on it, saying just that.”
George Hammer said he was planning to keep a low profile when the inquiry starts.
“We’ve now got the lease and we have a strong case,” he said. “As long as the inspector is not swayed by emotional arguments we should win the appeal.
“English Heritage supports us and the new use is sustainable and would bring it back to life.”
|
 |
|
|
| |
| |
