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CHURCHES 'DYING LIKE DINOSAURS'
Religious leader’s warning at planning inquiry over historic St Mark’s
A RELIGIOUS leader has warned that Westminster’s historic churches “are going the way of the dinosaurs” as he called for a planning inspector to throw out proposals to transform the historic St Mark’s into a luxury health spa.
Father William Pearsall, representing 50 churches in central London as chairman of Churches Together in Westminster, told a public inquiry at City Hall they were “an endangered species”.
He said he was “not comfortable” with the controversial planning application for St Mark’s lodged by multi-millionaire developer George Hammer.
Westminster Council called the bid to transform the Grade I-listed building “sacrilegious” when they rejected the scheme in December 2008 – but Mr Hammer appealed the decision claiming it was based on “sentimental” grounds. A five-day hearing ended on Wednesday with a decision expected before the New Year.
Officials heard how Mr Hammer – who also own churches in Marylebone and Covent Garden – had taken a £2million gamble on an inspector backing his appeal.
His Jersey-based Mayfair Land Ltd bought the St Mark’s lease from the Diocese of London and is now legally required to repair the Grade I-listed building in North Audley Street.
Mr Hammer’s lawyers argued, following the cut-price acquisition in September, that the spa plan was the only way to save the building from ruin.
But two separate lawyers acting for the council and the St Mark’s campaign warned him that was not true and that he was legally liable to refurbish the building whatever the decision of inspector Paul Jackson.
John Pugh Smith QC, representing the St Mark’s Action Group, told the inquiry: “The appellant has taken a commercial risk and is now subject to immediate repairing obligations. No longer is the future repair of the building seemingly reliant upon the appeal’s proposals for delivery.”
Holy Trinity Brompton – a religious group specialising in taking over churches that fall into disrepair – have submitted “sketch” plans for refurbishing the building without making any “dramatic effect on the spatial experience” or removing the historic staircases.
Hereward Phillpot, representing Westminster Council, told the inspector: “The likelihood of use actually coming about is a highly material consideration.”
But Mr Hammer’s architect Brian Walters said: “HTB will not be able to make proper use of the gallery, in our analysis, unless they provide fire escapes. They will have to make the same interventions because of Disabled Discrimination Act.”
He admitted the HTB plans would not expose the building’s brick work and religious features to “hot and steamy conditions”.
The inquiry that Mr Hammer had approached Rev Roderick Leece, who runs nearby St George’s Church in Hanover Square. He has offered to take in the exiled St Mark’s worshippers – the 200 strong congregation were kicked out of the church and are currently meeting in a Holiday Inn conference suite – in return for use of the church as a temporary home for his worshippers while his building undergoes a £2.5 million renovation.
Mr Leece said: “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 inquiry also heard evidence from former St Mark’s pastor Rev Ron Bishop. Having flown in especially from America on a “mission” from God, he told the inquiry: “Opening the doors to St Mary’s was like opening the whole spirit of the community. As a man of God, I feel it is important to recognise when something takes place that is spiritual. I continue to pray that God’s work can be done.”
Mayfair resident Matthew Olly said: “I have spoken to Hindus in the chemist, Pakistanis in the supermarket, Italian Catholics – they are all very surprised. They didn’t think it would happen in their own places of worship.”
But Mr Hammer warned: “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.”
The Save St Mark’s Action Group is headed by Lady Sainsbury the wife of former Conservative Minister Sir Tim Sainsbury.
She said: “At a time when the whole country is anxious about its heritage and its character as a Christian nation, here is the Diocese undermining that by selling its precious assets off cheap as a playground for the rich. It’s unbelievable.”
The inspector is expected to publish his decision by January. |
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