St Mark's Church in Mayfair turned into a food hall

[successstories]

I was quite uncomfortable to see this former place of worship being turned into a food hall.

There was something disturbing about spaghetti and pizza being dished up in front of all the religious objects and imagery (which are very prominent, still in situ and pretty much intact)

Isn't there a Christian organisation that could have ensured this building was preserved for a more suitable use? If this had happened to a Synagogue or a Mosque for example, there would have been outrage.

AIBU?

Jewish communities often move away from a place because they want to become more religious/want to find a Jewish partner. it's a vicious cycle because there is a perception that you can only have a proper Jewish community in London/Manchester/Israel and so people move away and then there are fewer people in the smaller communities and so the synagogues close.

It wouldn't worry me personally, though I do get the bit about "jarring" - however if you think that's bad you should have seen our local outcry over the presbyterian church which was turned into a nightclub

Endless wailing and gnashing of teeth over THAT!!

Just for balance, I live very close to a Sikh Gurdwara which used to be a pub!

Well, maybe Sikhs feel uneasy about this too.

@onthefencesitter I remember learning in Religious Studies at school that in Christianity too a church isn't necessary a building but a group of people who worship together. The same with Islam. I know in some towns the local mosque is often a converted house rather than a purpose built building.
I am not religious but I have more respect for religious groups that focus more on their beliefs and how they contribute to the local community than whether they worship in some fancy pretty building.

But why is library ok and food not? Think of all the unsuitable books that would be in that church!

@Lockheart I've got one of those near me too, not Hullabaloo is it?😀

I felt a bit like that at Zizzis in Cheltenham ... watching the pizzas being cooked on the altar .... must go back to my convent roots .... very lapsed now but obv still there somewhere

There's one across from my house which is now a soft play centre. I can tell you in which form it has more use in the community. Spoiler - it's the latter.

Loving the dog whistle OP. Ha if you don’t like the place don't go, sounds like there has been ample time for this building to be snapped up by a Christian organisation, but that hasn't happened.

I'd rather see a building being used than derelict.

This

The church I have been attending for ten years is having to close as it is just not financially viable for it to continue ... I really hope it will be turned into a useful building - that may be a food hall, apartments or (least likely) a community centre. There aren't enough 'Christian organisations' to take over the running of such buildings. I was telling someone about the church closing - she was quite indignant and said 'the Church' shouldn't allow it ... but she had never attended a service there, so I really don't understand her argument.

I don't understand your squeamishness. Eating is not an inherently disgusting activity. There are numerous references in the Bible to meals and food.

Cool!

Pubs are closing down. Nice that one has found a use which isn't a supermarket or block of flats.

Where I used to live, there are lots of religious buildings that are now used for other purposes. Methodist /Baptist chapels seem to do quite well as residential, and some CofE are also homes. At least the chapels didn't come with a graveyard with tombs still in use! I don't know what would be considered acceptable to all, I'm sure that whatever happened to redundant religious buildings there will be a complaint.

Do you know for a fact it wasn't offered to any Christian groups? Did any Christian groups show an interest in leasing it? Maybe that's the real issue rather than what it is now?

lol

the ghosts of the deceased congregation will be glaring down at all those debauched sinners.

It's about respect, I think. Going back to my point, this would never have been allowed if it was a building that had been used by any other religion.

You've had at least two examples showing that isn't true. Are you going to retract that silly statement?

It's a great place upstairs is TAM Fusion by 2-star Michelin chef John Burton-Race at non-star prices. Life moves on if you have faith you will find sustenance anywhere. The conversion costs 5 million pounds and has preserved the building as a living entity for posterity. Downstairs is a not-for-profit social area available for local charities. TAM (Temple of Arts and Music is a labour of love by the owner to help young talented musicians to find performance space and support.

tam-fusion-by-john-burton-race.business.site/

There's a beautiful old church in Maastricht that is now a bookshop, The cafe part is where the Altar used to be. And there is an adult section too (for pp who mentioned that a library might have racy books in them). It is marvellous.

I love Mercato Metropolitano! Nearly all of the food stalls in there are small hospitality businesses providing jobs to people in London in an industry crippled by the pandemic. Or should they all go and work for a Christian charity to be worthy in your eyes?

Unless you’re a regular church goer you can’t really moan imo

Have you ever heard of Holy Trinity church in Torquay?! Look it up and see what they did to it. Thank goodness someone has now bought it and is turning it in to a home.

Surely its better the Church sells surplus property, and therefore has money available for charitable work, upkeep of used churches etc? Rather than keeping them to rot.

DH went to a beer festival in a working church just before Covid. The local clergy used to serve the beer... it was a great fundraiser for them apparently.

you are not being unreasonable to have feelings if you are that religion and see this as a sign of a decline in numbers, though I think someone upthread said this building was deconsecrated years ago.
i don’t think that all deconsecrated churches should have to have their use limited to charitable use or whatever.