Editing Methodist Central Hall, Westminster

{{Use British English|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Redirect|Methodist Central Hall|other similarly named halls|Methodist Central Hall, Birmingham|and|Longton Methodist Central Hall}}
{{Infobox church
| name = Methodist Central Hall
| image = Methodist Central Hall.JPG
| caption = Front entrance
| pushpin map = London
| pushpin label position = 
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| coordinates = {{coord|51|30|00|N|0|07|48|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| osgraw = <!--  TEXT -->
| osgridref = <!-- {{gbmappingsmall|TEXT}} -->
| location = [[Westminster, London]], {{postcode|SW|1}}
| country = England
| denomination = [[Methodist Church of Great Britain]]
| style = {{hlist | [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] | [[Edwardian architecture|Edwardian]]}}
| groundbreaking = 1905
| completed date = 1911
| construction cost = £496,152<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://mchw.live/timeline/construction-begins|title=Our Timeline|website=Methodist Central Hall|date=January 1876 }}</ref>
| demolished date = 
| capacity = 2,300 (Great Hall)<ref name="Janello" />
| length = <!-- {{convert|}} -->
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| width nave = <!-- {{convert|}} -->
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| diameter = <!-- {{convert|}} -->
| other dimensions = 
| floor count = 
| floor area = <!-- {{convert|}} -->
| dome quantity = 
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| circuit = Westminster
| district = London
| minister = Presbyters: {{unbulleted list | Tony Miles | Lansford Penn-Timity | Gordon Newton}} <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mchw.live/team|title=Team|website=Methodist Central Hall}}</ref>

Deacon: Ali McMillan
| deacon = 
}}
The '''Methodist Central Hall''' (also known as '''Central Hall Westminster''') is a multi-purpose venue in the [[City of Westminster]], London, serving primarily as a [[Methodist]] church and a [[conference centre]]. The building also houses an art gallery, a restaurant, and office spaces (used formerly as the headquarters of the [[Methodist Church of Great Britain]] until 2000). It contains 22 conference, meeting and seminar rooms, the largest being the ''Great Hall'', which seats 2,300.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.c-h-w.com/organiser |title=Organiser |publisher=Central Hall Westminster |access-date=19 October 2012}}</ref> Central Hall also acts as an important spiritual and sacred place for Methodists.

Methodist Central Hall occupies the corner of Tothill Street and Storeys Gate just off [[Victoria Street, London|Victoria Street]] in London, near the junction with The Sanctuary next to the [[Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre]] and facing [[Westminster Abbey]].

==History==
Methodist Central Hall was erected by [[Wesleyan Methodist Church (Great Britain)|Wesleyan Methodists]] as one of their mixed-purpose 'central halls'. Central Hall was to act not only as a church, but to be of "great service for conferences on religious, educational, scientific, philanthropic and social questions". The hall was built in 1905–1911 on the site of the [[Royal Aquarium|Royal Aquarium, Music Hall and Imperial Theatre]],<ref name="auto"/> an entertainment complex that operated with varying success from 1876 to 1903.<ref name="Wittich">{{cite book |title=Churches, Cathedrals and Chapels |first=John |last=Wittich |publisher=Gracewing Publishing |year=1988 |isbn=085244141X|page=102 |access-date=19 October 2012 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gPc6ZYfPYPcC&pg=PA102}}</ref> Construction was funded between 1898 and 1908 by the "Wesleyan Methodist Twentieth Century Fund" (or the "Million Guinea Fund", as it became more commonly known), whose aim was to raise one million [[Guinea (British coin)|guineas]] from one million Methodists. The fund closed in 1904 having raised 1,024,501 guineas (£1,075,727).<ref name="history">{{cite web |url=http://www.c-h-w.com/Venue/background-to-the-building/ |title=Background to the building |publisher=Central Hall Westminster |access-date=19 October 2012}}</ref> The project to establish the Million Guinea Fund, and build the Central Hall was the brainchild of Sir [[Robert William Perks]] (1849-1934).<ref>See Chapter Seven of Denis Crane, The Life-Story of Sir R.W. Perks, Baronet, C.H. Kelly, London, 1909.</ref>

The building played host to several important events; meetings of the [[suffragette]] movement took place at Methodist Central Hall in 1914. Scenes were re-enacted in the 2015 film ''[[Suffragette (film)|Suffragette]]'', some of which was shot in the hall.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://methodist-central-hall.org.uk/vote100-suffragette-movement-methodist-central-hall/|title=#Votes100 – Suffragette Movement and Methodist Central Hall – Methodist Central Hall, Westminster|date=2018-02-05|work=Methodist Central Hall, Westminster|access-date=2018-02-12|language=en-US}}</ref>

[[File:Memorial plaque to the United Nations General Assembly. Methodist Central Hall, Westminster.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The 50th anniversary plaque of the first meeting of the [[United Nations General Assembly]] in Central Hall]]
Methodist Central Hall hosted the first meeting of the [[United Nations General Assembly]] in 1946.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mchw.live/timeline/inaugural-meeting-of-the-united-nations-general-assembly|title=Our Timeline|website=Methodist Central Hall|date=January 1876 }}</ref><ref name="Janello">{{cite book |last1=Janello |first1=Amy |last2=Jones |first2=Brennon |title=A Global Affair: An Inside Look at the United Nations |publisher=I.B.Tauris |year=1996 |isbn=1860641393 |page=20 |access-date=19 October 2012 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pPOnZgXAqecC&pg=PA20}}</ref><ref name="Wittich" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://methodist-central-hall.org.uk/united-nations-day-2016-un71/|title=United Nations Day 2016 – #UN71 – Methodist Central Hall, Westminster|date=2016-10-24|work=Methodist Central Hall, Westminster|access-date=2018-02-12|language=en-US}}</ref> In return for the use of the hall, the assembly voted to fund the repainting of the walls of the church in a light blue. While it was being used by the UN General Assembly, the congregation relocated to the [[Coliseum Theatre]].<ref name="Janello" />

It has been regularly used for political rallies—famous speakers have included [[Winnie Mandela]], [[Mahatma Gandhi]] and [[Mikhail Gorbachev]].<ref name="history" /> In September 1972 the [[Conservative Monday Club]] held a much publicised "Halt Immigration Now!" public meeting in the main hall, addressed by several prominent speakers including members of parliament [[Ronald Bell (UK politician)|Ronald Bell]], [[John Biggs-Davison]], [[Harold Soref]], and [[John Stokes (Conservative politician)|John Stokes]].<ref>''Monday News'', Oct.1972 (Monday Club publication).</ref><ref>''Sunday Times'', 14 January 1973</ref> The Monday Club continued its use of the building until 1991 when it held two seminars there.<ref>''Monday Club News'', January 1992.</ref>

In 1968, Central Hall hosted the first public performance of [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]'s ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]''<ref name="history" /> in a concert that also included his father (organist [[William Lloyd Webber]] who was musical director at Central Hall), his brother the cellist [[Julian Lloyd Webber]] and pianist [[John Lill]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09pv42d|title=Methodist Central Hall Westminster, Songs of Praise |website=BBC One |language=en-GB|access-date=2018-02-12}}</ref>

In early 1966 the [[FIFA World Cup Trophy#Jules Rimet Trophy|FIFA World Cup Jules Rimet Trophy]] was on display at Central Hall in preparation for the football tournament being held in England that summer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mchw.live/timeline/theft-of-the-fifa-world-cup-from-the-library-during-a-morning-service|title=Our Timeline|website=Methodist Central Hall|date=January 1876 }}</ref> It was stolen from the hall on 20 March 1966 and was recovered seven days later in south London, but the thief was never caught. England won the trophy four months later. The Jules Rimet Trophy was stolen again in Brazil and never recovered, and so had to be replaced.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/20/newsid_2861000/2861545.stm |title=1966: Football's World Cup stolen |publisher=BBC |access-date=19 October 2012}}</ref>

In 2017, Central Hall was host to the first FIFA Interactive World Cup final where Spencer Ealing (known as Gorilla) beat Kai Wollin (known as DETO).<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-11-07|title=Central Hall Westminster provides backdrop for thrilling FIFA Interactive World Cup Final|url=https://www.c-h-w.com/central-hall-westminster-provides-backdrop-for-thrilling-fifa-interactive-world-cup-final/|access-date=2020-09-17|website=CHW|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2005, Central Hall controversially applied for a licence to sell alcohol in its café and conference venues. As the Methodist Church has traditionally promoted [[Teetotalism|abstinence]] and usually forbids consumption of alcohol on church premises, many Methodists argued that the application was in defiance of church rules and a written objection was compiled.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/methodist.hq.alcohol.license.application.sparks.abstinence.debate/2958.htm |title=Methodist HQ Alcohol License Application Sparks Abstinence Debate |author=Eunice K. Y. Or |date=23 May 2005 |publisher=[[Christianity Today]] |access-date=19 October 2012}}</ref>

It is frequently used for public enquiries, including those into the [[Ladbroke Grove rail crash]], the sinking of the ''[[Marchioness disaster|Marchioness]]'' pleasure boat, and the [[Bloody Sunday (1972)|Bloody Sunday]] incident in [[Northern Ireland]].<ref name="history" />

==Architecture==
[[File:Methodist Central Hall - Great Hall with pipe organ.jpg|thumb|right|The grand organ contains 3,789 pipes and is located in the Great Hall.<ref>[http://www.c-h-w.com/visiting/ Group Travel] – Methodist Church Conference Cente Central Hall Westminster London UK</ref>]]

The Methodist Central Hall is a Grade II* listed building.<ref name="NHLE">{{NHLE|num=1264457|desc=Methodist Central Hall, Westminster|access-date= 10 January 2019}}</ref> It was designed by [[Edwin Alfred Rickards]], of the firm [[Henry Vaughan Lanchester|Lanchester, Stewart and Rickards]].<ref name="Wittich" /> This company also designed the [[City Hall, Cardiff|City Hall]] building in [[Cathays Park]], [[Cardiff]], with which it shares many similarities. Although clad in an elaborate [[baroque architecture|baroque]] style, to contrast with [[Westminster Abbey]], it is an early example of the use of a reinforced concrete frame for a building in Britain.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Rough Guide to London |author=Rob Humphreys |publisher=Rough Guides UK |year=2010 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B69mtCxyRiYC&pg=PT132 |access-date=20 October 2012 |isbn=978-1405384773}}</ref> The interior was similarly planned on a [[Giovanni Battista Piranesi|Piranesian]] scale, although the execution was rather more economical.

The original 1904 design included two small towers on the main (east) façade, facing Westminster Abbey. These were never built, supposedly because of an outcry that they would reduce the dominance of [[Nicholas Hawksmoor]]'s west towers at Westminster Abbey in views from [[St James's Park]]. The hall was eventually finished in 1911.

The domed ceiling of the Great Hall is reputed to be the second largest of its type in the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=Historic Weddings Venue Central Hall Westminster London UK|url=https://www.c-h-w.com/organiser/event-types/weddings/wedding-venue/|website=Central Hall Westminster London UK|access-date=14 February 2017}}</ref> The vast scale of the self-supporting ferro-concrete structure reflects the original intention that Central Hall was intended to be a meeting place for "open-air preaching with the roof on".<ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Connelly |first1=Angela |title=Methodist Central Halls as Public Sacred Space |url=https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/files/54506512/FULL_TEXT.PDF |publisher=University of Manchester |access-date=7 May 2021 |page=107 |date=2010}}</ref>

The angels in the exterior [[spandrel]]s were designed by [[Henry Poole (sculptor)|Henry Poole]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Henry Poole RA – Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851–1951 |url=https://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib2_1210171348 |website=sculpture.gla.ac.uk |access-date=26 December 2020}}</ref>

<gallery align="centre" mode="nolines" widths=250>
File:Methodist Central Hall Westminster - Great Hall Dome.jpg|Interior of the Great Hall, looking up into the dome
File:Methodist Central Hall, Londres, Inglaterra, 2022-11-23, DD 61-63 HDR.jpg|Central Hall at night time
File:Methodist Central Hall View from Roof.jpg|A view of London from the roof of Central Hall, looking to the east
</gallery>

=== Organ ===
The [[organ (music)|organ]] was built in 1912 by [[William Hill & Sons]] and rebuilt and revised in 1970 by [[Rushworth and Dreaper]]. In 2011, [[Harrison & Harrison]] revised the layout, provided new slider soundboards and actions and painted the front pipes. The organ has 57 stops/68 ranks and 3,789 speaking pipes on four manuals and pedal. The stoplist since 2011:<ref>[http://www.harrisonorgans.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Westminster-Central-Hall.pdf Great Organ at Westminster Central Hall ]. www.harrisonorgans.com. Retrieved May 9, 2018.</ref>

{| border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="8" style="border-collapse:collapse;" 
| style="vertical-align:top" |
{| border="0"
| colspan=4 | '''I Choir''' C–c<sup>4</sup>
----
|-
| Open Diapason	||8′
|-
| Stopped Diapason	||8′
|-
| Salicional	||8′
|-
| Principal	||4′
|-
| Open Flute	||4′
|-
| Nazard	|| 2<sup>2</sup>/<sub>3</sub>′
|-
| Fifteenth	||2′
|-
| Flageolet	||2′
|-
| Tierce	|| 1<sup>3</sup>/<sub>5</sub>′
|-
| Larigot	|| 1<sup>1</sup>/<sub>3</sub>′
|-
| Mixture	III
|-
| Trumpet	||8′
|-
| 
|-
| ''Tremulant''	
|}
| style="vertical-align:top" |
{| border="0"
| colspan=4 | '''II Great''' C–c<sup>4</sup>
----
|-
| Double Open Diapason	||16′
|-
| Open Diapason No I	||8′
|-
| Open Diapason No II	||8′
|-
| Open Diapason No III	||8′
|-
| Clarabella	||8′
|-
| Octave	||4′
|-
| Principal	||4′
|-
| Hohl Flute	||4′
|-
| Twelfth	|| 2<sup>2</sup>/<sub>3</sub>′
|-
| Fifteenth	||2′
|-
| Mixture	IV
|-
| Contra Trombone	||16′
|-
| Trumpet	||8′
|-
| Octave Trumpet	||4′
|}
| style="vertical-align:top" |
{| border="0"
| colspan=4 | '''III Swell''' C–c<sup>4</sup>
----
|-
| Cone Gamba	||16′
|-
| Open Diapason	||8′
|-
| Lieblich Gedeckt	||8′
|-
| Gamba	||8′
|-
| Voix Céleste	||8′
|-
| Principal	||4′
|-
| Lieblich Flute	||4′
|-
| Flageolet	||2′
|-
| Mixture	III
|-
| Oboe	||8′
|-
| Vox Humana	||8′
|-
| 
|-
| ''Tremulant''	
|-
| 
|-
| Contra Fagotto	||16′
|-
| Cornopean	||8′
|-
| Clarion	||4′
|}
| style="vertical-align:top" |
{| border="0"
| colspan=4 | '''IV Solo''' C–c<sup>4</sup>
----
|-
| Harmonic Flute	||8′
|-
| Concert Flute	||4′
|-
| Piccolo	||2′
|-
| Viol d'Orchestre	||8′
|-
| Voix Célestes	||8′
|-
| Clarinet	||8′
|-
| Orchestral Oboe	||8′
|-
| 
|-
| ''Tremulant''	
|-
| 
|-
| French Horn	||8′
|-
| Orchestral Trumpet	||8′
|-
| Tuba	||8′
|}
| style="vertical-align:top" |
{| border="0"
| colspan=4 | '''Pedal''' C–g<sup>1</sup>
----
|-
| Contra Violone	||32′
|-
| Major Bass	||16′
|-
| Open Diapason	||16′ (Tr. Great)
|-
| Violone	||16′ (Ext. 32')
|-
| Contra Gamba	||16′ (Tr. Swell)
|-
| Bourdon	||16′
|-
| Principal	||8′
|-
| Flute	||8′ (Ext. Bourdon 16')
|-
| Fifteenth	||4′
|-
| Stopped Flute	||4′ (Ext. Bourdon 16')
|-
| Mixture	IV
|-
| Contra Posaune	||32′ (Ext. Contra Trombone 16' Great)
|-
| Posaune	||16′ (Tr. Great)
|-
| Trombone	||16′
|-
| Contra Fagotto	||16′ (Tr. Swell)
|-
| Trumpet	||8′ (Ext. Trombone 16')
|}
|}

* Couplers: III-I, IV-I, I-II, III-II, IV-II, IV-III, Sub and Super III, Sub and Super III, Unison off III, Unison off IV, I-P, II-P, III-P, IV-P.
* 8 General Combinations, 8 Divisional Combinations for each Manual and the Pedal (on 256 Memory Levels); Continental Stepper (General Piston Sequencer + and -).

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Methodist Central Hall, London}}
* [http://www.mchw.live/ Methodist Central Hall] – Church website
* [http://www.c-h-w.com/ Central Hall Westminster] – Conference centre website
* [http://www.sanctuary-westminster.org/ The Sanctuary Westminster]

{{London landmarks}}
{{Churches in Westminster}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Methodist churches in London]]
[[Category:Cultural and educational buildings in London]]
[[Category:Grade II* listed churches in the City of Westminster]]
[[Category:Edwardian architecture in London]]
[[Category:Exhibition and conference centres in London]]
[[Category:Religion in the City of Westminster]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in the City of Westminster]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1911]]
[[Category:20th-century architecture in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Church buildings with domes]]
[[Category:Domes in the United Kingdom]]