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Westminster Central Hall

At the heart of Britain's political life

WESTMINSTER Central Hall, the Wesley centenary memorial situated at the heart of Britain's political life and opposite Westminster Abbey, was opened by the President of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference, the Rev F Luke Wiseman, on October 3, 1912 as the headquarters of Methodism in London on the strategic site formerly occupied by the Westminster Aquarium (Music Hall) and the Imperial Theatre.

Last year saw the central hall celebrating its 87th anniversary looking back over many years of change and opportunity and looking ahead into the 21st century.

Looking ahead

Following the move of the Connexional offices to Methodist Church House which will be completed by the summer, the central hall and its trustees are exploring, in line with the Conference directive of 1998, what ministry, mission and witness should properly be exercised by the Methodist Church at Westminster and the role of the central hall buildings in this important work.

The trustees have commissioned consultants who have submitted a variety of options for the use of various areas of the building in a new strategy balancing the mission of the church with commercial considerations. A major concern, following the loss of revenue from the rental from the Connexion, is finding alternative ways of using the premises to provide income.

How it all began

The year 1891 was the centenary of the death of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, and many leaders within the Church, including the Rev Nehemiah Curnock, the then editor of the Methodist Recorder, and Sir Robert Perks, were concerned that the occasion be suitably marked.

It was not until 1898, however, that the Wesleyan Methodist Conference resolved to establish the Wesleyan Methodist 20th Century Fund to raise 1 million guineas for the financing of a great forward movement and to use part of this money to build a great centenary memorial hall on a suitable site in London.

This building was to house the offices of the Wesleyan Church in addition to providing a great meeting place and centre for the work and outreach of the Church, at the same time being a "visible and monumental memorial". In 1903 the freehold site at Westminster was purchased and architects contracted for the building, the cost being Ł155,170.

The Million Guinea Fund

The 20th Century Fund was inaugurated at Wesley's Chapel in London's City Road on November 8 1898 and became known colloquially as the Million Guinea Fund. It's aim was to secure "One Million Guineas from One Million Methodists" and by far the most numerous subscribers were "ordinary" Methodists whose wages were often scarcely enough to last the week.

Every subscriber received an illuminated certificate duly inscribed and the children received medals, their names being inscribed on what are known as the "historic rolls". In 1904 the fund closed with a total of Ł1,075,727 - which in today's money equates to more than Ł57 million - with the trustees of the central hall being allocated Ł242,206 from the 20th Century Million Guinea Fund.

Through the years

The intervening years have seen the central hall play host to the world - and to Methodism. In 1946 it was requisitioned to house the inaugural sessions of the United Nations at the end of the Second World War during which the basement had served as a haven for Londoners. World leaders and British political leaders have spoken from its platform and a host of Methodist events, at world and Connexional level, have been held here in the heart of London, together with prestigious services, concerts and other gatherings.

Lord Rank

During the 1960s the fabric of the central hall was renewed, the vast basement developed and readapted, the exterior cleaned and the organ rebuilt with the generous help of Lord Rank, who also cleared a debt which had hung over the trustees since 1912.

Today

Every Sunday and throughout the week visitors are received from throughout the world. A variety of midweek activities takes place with chaplaincy roles in parliament and a local university, together with three times a week broadcasts by the superintendent minister on the Christian Premier Radio, which is based nearby.

There are established links with local schools, the City of Westminster, the diplomatic community and local churches, especially Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral. Every Good Friday the abbey, cathedral and central hall stage "The Crucifixion on Victoria Street" and in the course of a year other important Connexional and national occasions and services are held in the Great Hall.

Other Wesley-linked sites in the area

A plaque in West Street, WC2, identifies the West Street chapel as being the first consecrated building to belong to Methodism. From the pulpit of West Street preached John and Charles Wesley, John Fletcher and other well known early Methodists. The famous pulpit may be seen in the church of St Giles-in-the-Fields, only 200 yards away. Also worth a look is a portrait of John Wesley in the National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, off Trafalgar Square.

The Charles Wesley memorial in the old churchyard at Marylebone is the central feature of a memorial garden, emphasising Charles' links with Marylebone which he used as his London base from 1771 after leaving Bristol.

Information

Westminster Central Hall

Opening times: Monday to Saturday: 8 am - 6 pm and evenings depending on events. Sundays: 9.30 am until after evening service.

Services: Sunday: 10 am service in the chapel; 11 am morning service, Sunday school and youth fellowship; 6.30 pm evening service; 8 pm TnT for students and young adults. Wednesday: 12.45 pm lunchtime service in the chapel. Thursday: 12.30 pm service of prayer for the healing of body, mind, spirit and relationships with the Rev Dr Malcolm White, second Thursday of each month (tel 01753 8864 846 or 0775 997 556).

Other activities: For details of the regular weekly programme, contact Westminster Central Hall (tel 0207 222 8010, fax 0207 930 5355). The building is also hired for conferences, exhibitions, concerts and a variety of other events open to the public.

Tours: Hosted tours are available on most Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11 am and 3.30 pm. Inquire at reception in the front entrance or tel 0207 222 8010. Limited access is available on other weekdays.

Disabled access: Disabled access is available at the side entrance in Tothill Street either by ringing the bell or by prior arrangement. There are lift and toilet facilities (tel 0207 222 8010).

Things to see at Westminster Central Hall

The plaque commemorating the inauguration at central hall of the United Nations in 1946;
the Manning statue of John Wesley given by Richmond College;
the Great Hall seating 2,000 people with its reinforced concrete dome;
the organ which consists now of 79 speaking stops out of a total of 102;
the historic rolls of names of those who contributed to the Million Guinea Fund;
the view over London from the dome balcony;
the Grand Staircase.

Friends of Westminster Central Hall

For details tel 0207 222 8010.

How to get there

Address: Westminster Central Hall, 1 Central Buildings, Storey's Gate, London SW1H 9NH (tel 0207 222 8010, fax 0207 930 5355).

On foot: The main public entrance to Westminster Central Hall is on Storey's Gate, opposite Westminster Abbey and the Queen Elizabeth conference centre.

By car: Public car parks operate in Abingdon Street, Horseferry Road and Rochester Row. Ample free street parking is usually available after 6.30 pm weekday evenings and all day most weekends.

By bus: Buses 11, 24 and 211 pass the door. Buses 3, 12, 53, 53X, 77a, 88, 109, 159, 177Ex, 184 and 196 stop nearby.

By underground: Nearest underground stations: Westminster and St James's Park (District and Circle lines) and Victoria (Victoria, District and Circle lines).

By mainline rail: Westminster Central Hall is within easy walking distance of Victoria, Charing Cross and Waterloo mainline stations.

Shop, cafes and restuarants

Wesley's Cafe at Westminster Central Hall is open 10 am to 4.30 pm (Monday to Saturday) serving hot snacks, soup, sandwiches, cakes and coffee to eat in or take away (party bookings welcome) with refreshments served in the Crush Hall on Sundays. Sandwich bars can be found in the vicinity. Fast food chains and other restaurants can be found in the Whitehall, Parliament Square and Victoria Street area. Further shopping facilities are available at the Army and Navy department store and at Victoria station where the piazza has a variety of food outlets. In the immediate area eating places are limited on Sunday.