The Methodist Central Hall may seem like just another grand London building— but its walls have witnessed moments that shaped the modern world. From hosting the very first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly to echoing the voices of global icons and campaigners, this remarkable venue holds a unique place in history.
The Aftermath of World War II
World War II in Europe ended on 8th May 1945 and in the Pacific on 15th August 1945. There were around 70 to 75 million military and civilian deaths plus the 6 million people who perished in the Nazi holocaust which wiped out the Jewish populations in the countries the Nazis had occupied.
There were 320,000 military deaths from the United Kingdom plus 60,000 civilian deaths, 30,000 in the mass bombing of London (the ‘blitz’). Everyone said ‘never again’. However, this had been said after the massive conflagration that was World War I (‘The Great War’).
The League of Nations had been set up in 1920 to bring nations closer together and prevent war. In 1928 The Kellogg-Briand pact, named after the U.S. Secretary of State and the French Foreign Minister who instigated it and eventually signed by 62 countries, including Germany, outlawed war as a means of resolving conflicts. Sadly neither the League of Nations nor the Kellogg-Briand Pact stopped the rise of militarism in the 1930s and World War II.
Efforts Toward Lasting Peace
When it was all over, the nations of the world resolved to prevent war and enable greater international understanding by creating the United Nations. It was in Methodist Central Hall that almost 80 years ago the United Nations General Assembly had its inaugural meeting on 10th January 1946.
Since then there has been a war somewhere virtually every year but mercifully no huge international conflagration. In 1946, 51 member states were represented, much of the world was still a part of colonial empires, mostly of the UK and France. There are 193 member states today ranging from the tiny Vatican City state to China and India with their billion plus populations.
After London, meetings were held in other cities outside of the UK before a permanent move to New York in 1952. This momentous inaugural meeting is commemorated on a plaque at the Tothill Street side of the building.
Methodist Central Hall as a Symbolic Venue
Methodist Central Hall is a church and a conference centre and is built on the site of a former Royal Aquarium and adjoining theatre! Apart from a dead whale very few fish were on display with the emphasis on music hall, circus and variety acts. The aquarium that never really was an aquarium opened in 1886. In 1901 that was replaced by the Imperial Theatre where the likes of Lily Langtry trod the boards. By 1907 the site was cleared and became the location for Methodist Central Hall.
The hall was designed by Henry Vaughan Lanchester and Edwin Alfred Rickards in the Viennese Baroque style contrasting sharply with the gothic masterpiece that is Westminster Abbey. It was paid for via a campaign called the ‘Wesleyan Methodist Twentieth Century Fund’ to commemorate the centenary of the death of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism; the ‘Million Guinea Fund’ was its more popular name.
The Methodist church asked for a million Methodists to give a million guineas to fund the building. Up until 15th February 1971 many items were priced in Guineas which was 21 shillings (£1.05). By 1904 1,024,501 guineas were raised (£1,075,727) and the building commenced. The equivalent today is around £100 million.
As the building is a conference centre as well as a place for worship, many rallies and meetings have been held here over the years, some very famous speakers have appeared here such as Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist and political ethicist Mahatma Gandhi, British philosopher and logician Bertrand Russell, the head of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Dalai Lama, Baptist minister, activist, and political philosopher Dr. Martin Luther King and British statesman, military officer, and writer and Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.
A Hub of Cultural and Political Activity
Rallies were held here to champion the anti apartheid cause and the campaign to end the death penalty. Also major inquiries have been held here such as the inquiry into ‘Bloody Sunday’ and The Marchioness disaster in the River Thames.
There are many concerts performed here during the course of the year, Andrew Lloyd Webber staged his first public performance here in 1968, a year prior to this the Jules Rimet FIFA World cup trophy, won by England and famously presented by Queen Elizabeth II to England captain Bobby Moore was stolen whilst on display here at a stamp exhibition, fortunately it was recovered by a dog called Pickles out walking with his owner in Upper Norwood south London, it was hidden under a laurel bush!
Religious and Symbolic Elements
There is the biggest self-supporting dome of its kind in Europe. The building is Grade II listed. Entry is free to the common parts. Several church services are held every week. Television cameras are placed on the far left balcony (viewed from the front) when there is an important event taking place at Westminster Abbey such as Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022 or the Charles III’s Coronation in 2023.
The only religious symbols on the building are difficult to see as they are high up. If you look carefully you will see symbols representing the 4 saints who wrote the gospels. A winged man represents St. Matthew, his gospel opens with the human ancestors of Jesus. The winged lion represents St. Mark who emphasises the royal dignity of Christ and whose gospel opens with John the evangelist roaring like a lion. The winged ox represents St. Luke, his gospel emphasises the sacrificial nature of Christ’s ministry. Finally, the eagle represents St. John.
