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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

298 replies

successstories · 26/07/2022 10:29

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?

OP posts:
onthefencesitter · 26/07/2022 12:02

successstories · 26/07/2022 11:54

when my DF died and we cleared his house, I rescued some large religious statues from the skip (he was a devout RC) and destroyed them completely, in order that they weren’t put to use in an irreverent way.
**
I think that I got this from some point in my own RC upbringing - I’m mainly atheist now, but I still couldn’t aid and abet something like statues of the VM, JC and assorted Saints being used for anything other than their intended use

That's exactly how I felt

what good are churches and statues if there aren't the people who value them?

It is said that the Church of England will die out in 20 years. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8633540/Ageing-Church-of-England-will-be-dead-in-20-years.html#:~:text=The%20Church%20of%20England%20will,dies%2C%20Anglican%20leaders%20warned%20yesterday.

Surely if you are a committed Christian, that should be a far more important concern. If there are no worshippers, are we supposed to leave all these buildings empty?

Penguinpanda · 26/07/2022 12:02

It is good that the building is being preserved. I wasn’t keen on the idea of it being turned into a gym around 14 years ago, this is a more suitable use. My great grandfather was vicar there and I’m pleased that the building is still accessible to all.

Notjustanymum · 26/07/2022 12:03

@successstories I think that quite a few of us feel like that - but in the end you can only take such control when it’s in your capability to do so. It’s ok to feel uncomfortable about it, though💐

notanothertakeaway · 26/07/2022 12:03

yonce · 26/07/2022 10:43

I'm a Christian and I don't get upset by this sort of thing - a church is just a physical place to go, and once it's been deconsecrated then it is literally just a physical place. They're beautiful buildings, it's nice they're not being wasted and empty. You can find God in a field, your home, a supermarket, anywhere you are. You don't need to be inside a church to be close to God, and I think the majority of Christian's my age have that POV (at least that I have met). Churches are lovely, but when not in use and not blessed and buildings that shouldn't be left to rot.

@yonce I agree with you

EmmaH2022 · 26/07/2022 12:04

I had to look this one up. Turns out I don't know it, although many central London churches have been my "escape from the office" in the past.
Has been open as an empty building in the past?

I think it's a shame that English Heritage or a church org couldn't keep it open but if they can't fund it, I don't see what can be done. I hate that everything is about food in our overpopulated hell hole but I don't see a solution.

Lots of flats in converted churches now too. I used to volunteer at a local church. I am not a Christian but they are more a community space. Till lockdown...I know people who were Christians but have rejected church now because no one stood against lockdown.

I wonder if that will accelerate decline of Christianity.

Original poster
successstories · 26/07/2022 12:04

You go to church? What kind of building?

I go to the church that's local to me. Why is this relevant?

knittingaddict you should go and see it for yourself

OP posts:
bridgetreilly · 26/07/2022 12:06

this would never have been allowed if it was a building that had been used by any other religion

This is actual nonsense.

vera99 · 26/07/2022 12:06

The resting place of my mum and dad in Scorton Lancashire is an active CofE church and has a bar in there now and serves alcohol during big matches which they show on a projector. Slightly shocked me but in a chat, with the verger she said it has become a hub for the community. Time moves on. If it's not for you don't go there and seek your solace in places that it does. When Jesus was alive (if ever he was) there were no Christain churches and the Vatican has been in it's home to many evil and corrupt popes and priests I feel you are finding offence in the wrong places.

MMAMPWGHAP · 26/07/2022 12:07

Thanks for this thread OP. I wasn’t aware that it existed but will certainly make a visit next time I’m in the area. Sounds great.

Stevienickssnickers · 26/07/2022 12:08

I've been to beer festivals and gigs in working churches. Disused ones nearby have been turned into flats, clubs, venues, community centres, libraries, food banks, gyms. It's good that they're being put to use.

There's one round the corner that no one can get planning permission for, it's just been left to ruin - full of vermin, used for fly tipping, there's a colony of cats living in it, half the roof and walls have collapsed. It would be better to just tear it down it because it was a church that's not allowed. What a waste.

Simonjt · 26/07/2022 12:08

bridgetreilly · 26/07/2022 12:06

this would never have been allowed if it was a building that had been used by any other religion

This is actual nonsense.

And weirdly OP is completely ignoring people who know that buildings previously used by other religions have been converted with zero problems. Funny that.

hatedbythedailymail22 · 26/07/2022 12:09

bridgetreilly · 26/07/2022 12:06

this would never have been allowed if it was a building that had been used by any other religion

This is actual nonsense.

Nonsense and offensive.

Many religions have had to use all kinds of buildings for worship, rooms that might hold church one day and a party the next. Peoples houses, tents, even churches of other religions.

You don't know anything about it, and you're being offensive

pigsDOfly · 26/07/2022 12:11

If this had happened to a Synagogue or a Mosque for example, there would have been outrage....

Do you have proof of that assertion?

And outrage by whom exactly?

wallpoppy · 26/07/2022 12:13

There's a Synagogue in Leeds that is (I think) a dance school and there's no outrage. I grew up going to a Catholic church that is now a mosque. I think the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul has switched between church and mosque more than once. The Leeds Grand Mosque was I believe formerly a Christian church of some kind. A friend in NYC attends a synagogue that used to be a Christian church and my paternal grandparents used to attend a small church that was a barber shop during the day.

lightand · 26/07/2022 12:13

Not aware of a Christian organisation. Though not saying there isnt one.

They would have their hands full nowadays.

I could be wrong but aren't even the church of england thinking to sell off many churches?

bingotime · 26/07/2022 12:13

DFOD · 26/07/2022 11:48

This has been going on forever … The famous 80s/90s Limelight Club in Soho was a church as was The Union Chapel in Islington. Great that they now attract congregations of people communing and having fun. And yes your repeated dog - whistle was noted.

Dog whistle? What does this mean?

lightand · 26/07/2022 12:14

Co incedentally, I started a thread this morning, in the religious topic, about the problem of selling off religious buildings we are having.

Sexnotgender · 26/07/2022 12:15

There’s bloody hundreds of old churches unfortunately. They can’t all be used in a way you deem “worthy”. I’m involved in the church but I understand the need to repurpose buildings.

Just10moreminutesplease · 26/07/2022 12:16

Church buildings that are deconsecrated before they are sold. They are no longer ‘holy’ once this has happened.

Many old church buildings have historical and aesthetic value that can be preserved by using the building for something else. I can’t see this as a bad thing, honestly.

vera99 · 26/07/2022 12:17

Here you go Brixton Synagogue closed 1986 now a business centre.

boroughphotos.org/lambeth/brixton-synagogue-effra-road-brixton-3/

FirewomanSam · 26/07/2022 12:18

ShinyMe · 26/07/2022 10:47

If this had happened to a Synagogue or a Mosque for example, there would have been outrage.

Would there have been?

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_former_synagogues_in_the_United_Kingdom

A quick skim of this list shows disused synagogues being turned into flats, schools and nightclubs among other things.

Echobelly · 26/07/2022 12:19

Yabu that there'd be outrage if it were a synagogue or mosque, they can also fall out of use and be repurposed, it happens. You're looking at things though a Christian lens - as a Jew id say we don't attach much importance to the actual synagogue building - the Ark in each synagogue is central but without it I don't think people would be that bothered about building reuse.

The church will have been deconsecrated and then, for all intents and purposes, it's just a building.

vera99 · 26/07/2022 12:19

Oy vey....Brick Lane Synagogue became a mosque!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_former_synagogues_in_the_United_Kingdom

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 26/07/2022 12:19

I think it looks great tbh. Would definitely pop by.

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