Why have you dropped ‘Methodist’ from your name?
We haven’t. Methodist Central Hall Westminster (MCHW) is a thriving church in the British Methodist tradition with over 440 active members from over 30 different national groupings. ‘Central Hall Westminster Ltd’ was created by the trustees of the building, (appointed by the Methodist Conference) to hire out space in the building. Central Hall Westminster aims to offer a spirit of welcome for everyone and makes it clear to all its clients that the building remains a place of Christian worship in the British Methodist tradition.
What’s different about your building compared to a ‘normal’ church?
Our magnificent historic building was one of around 40 Central Halls built between the later 19th Century and up to the Second World War. They were originally an initiative of the Wesleyan Methodist Church to engage with the poor and burgeoning populations of the inner cities. Central Halls were to be places of invitation and generally have less traditional Christian symbols than most churches. When it was built, Methodist Central Hall Westminster was intended to serve not only as a Methodist church but to be of ‘great service for conferences on religious, scientific, philanthropic and social questions.’
How do you choose which events are allowed in your building?
Hundreds of events take place in the building each year, from a variety of different organisations. We strive to apply Methodist Standing Orders (rules) fairly and impartially to all bookings, both church and commercial. This results in some events not being able to take place in the building. For example, ‘party political’ events by one party can normally be accommodated, except during an election period, when single party meetings are not permitted. Events can take place in the building that are run by organisations whose views on many significant subjects are not those that some staff – whether commercial or church staff – would share.
What’s your policy on alcohol?
Like all Methodist Churches, we use non-alcoholic wine for holy communion and do not permit alcohol to be served at any Church event (e.g. Church Christmas lunch).
However, in 2005 the Methodist Conference (the supreme governing body of British Methodism) ruled that when the premises are used as a conference centre and with the trustees permission, alcohol can be served. It is on this basis that Central Hall Westminster Ltd (the not for profit company created and contracted by the trustees to hire out space in the building) applied for, and were granted, an alcohol licence. Consequently, alcohol can be served at some functions taking place in some – but not all – parts of the building.
But don’t Methodists abstain from alcohol?
It is certainly the case that very many Methodists, particularly in the 19thcentury, were ‘tee-totallers’ – that is, they didn’t drink alcohol at all. Lots of Methodists still are, and lots are not.
The Methodist Church in Great Britain has always highlighted the dangers of alcohol misuse and the damage it causes to personal well-being and social relationships. The judgement of the Methodist Church, however, is that total abstinence is a matter for individual choice. It is not a condition of Methodist membership. Methodists are recommended to make a personal commitment either to total abstinence or to responsible drinking. For more info click here.
Has the HM Queen or other members of the Royal Family visited?
Yes! Princess Elizabeth made her first visit to Methodist Central Hall Westminster with her mother and father, (King George VI and Queen Elizabeth) in 1932. Her Majesty the Queen has visited the building several times, most recently in 2005 to unveil our life-sized statue of Rev John Wesley, the human founder of Methodism, and in November 2003 to sign the Covenant made between the Church of England and the Methodist Church of Great Britain.
Other members of the Royal family visit the building quite regularly, often to attend functions taking place here. In January 2020 TRH the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the Holocaust Memorial Day service, you can find out more about our history via our timeline, (click here.)
Who has spoken in the building?
Given its unique location, right in the heart of London, our building has played host to a litany of high profile guests. In the 1930s Mahatma Gandhi addressed the Great Hall as did Sir Winston Churchill in March 1945, just before the end of the Second World War. Later that year Clement Attlee addressed crowds outside of our building following his victory in the General Election and in January 1946 the Methodist congregation moved out for several weeks, enabling 54 nations from across the world to hold the first General Assembly of the United Nations – the UN was essentially formed in our Great Hall. During the inaugural meeting of the UN, Eleanor Roosevelt spoke in the Great Hall. In more recent times many political and religious leaders have addressed meetings in the Great Hall including the Revd Dr Martin Luther King Jr, Tony Blair and in 2018, Archbishop Justin Welby.
