Church House in London – End of an Era

Moravian Church House, 5-7 Muswell Hill, closed in London on 28th August 2026 after 69 years of active service as the headquarters of the Moravian Church in Great Britian and Ireland. To mark the occasion a short service and reception was held for the present and previous staff, volunteers and Provincial Board members in the afternoon of the 28th.

The original Church House was in Fetter Lane, but this had been bombed during the Second World War and the Church was not permitted to rebuild on this site. So, work began finding a new premises for Moravian Church House. The new premises had to be convenient to the homes of Provincial Board members and give easy access to the City for train and planes. A number of premises were inspected, some of which were unsuitable for adaptation while others were unobtainable owing to lack of planning permission.

However, in April 1954 two houses, numbers five and seven Muswell Hill, came on the market and planning permission was obtained from the then Hornsey Borough Council for their adaptation and use as offices. Vacant possession of the houses was obtained in 1955 and plans for the renovation and adaptation of the houses were drawn up by the quincentenary site and planning committee. Work began towards the end of 1956 and was completed so far as the office accommodation was concerned in April 1957. The Memorial Chapel and library were completed in the autumn of the same year.

The houses date from the second half of the 19th century and a very generous gift from the American Province North met the cost of refurbishing the Boardroom and most of the rest of the premises. The Mission Flat which occupies the top floor of the two houses was furnished by contributions from the Moravian Women’s Auxiliary (now Association).

This house has seen so much over its 69 years of service to the Church: the offices of Provincial Board members; reception receiving guests, typing and sending out mail, supplies from the Bookroom, including the Watchwords and Advent Stars. Countless meetings of the Provincial Board and of Standing Committees of Synod; interviews with prospective candidates for the ministry; letters and reports prepared; accounts kept and audited and investments prepared; services and prayers in the chapel; archives have been kept, catalogued, curated and visited by countless researchers. The garden, a haven for wildlife, gave solace to many of those who have worked and prayed at Church House and hosted parties and Quiet Days. The Mission Flat received missionaries on furlough, visitors from other Provinces, those in London on Provincial business and also Church families grabbing a few days holiday in London. So many memories and so much to be grateful for!

But a house or an office is just an empty shell without the staff to clean it, provide hospitality, service the Bookroom, care for the archives, do the accounts, run the office and so much more. I have been coming to Church House since I was 21, and doubtless others have even longer memories. During my time there, in the accounts, David Quaite with Maureen Hutchings and then Lindsey Newens (Administrator) with Willie Esterhuizen and Peter Hammond, and lastly Graeme Salt and his beloved dog Devon; in the office Vera Coates, Margaret Forkhan, and lastly Gladys Korsah and Sharon Salt; and in the archives Janet Halton, Paul Blewitt and now Lorraine Parsons. Lastly but by no means least Peter and Margaret White followed by Alan and Carol Holdsworth who were caretakers and much more at Church House.

At the closing service Sr Roberta Hoey paid an affectionate and humorous tribute to the current Church House staff who are not moving to Fulneck: Sr Gladys Korsah our receptionist and book room manager who has been at Church House for 31 years, Br Graeme Salt our finance officer who has been there for 16 years, and his wife Sharon who has given support and holiday cover. Tribute was, of course, also paid to Sr Lindsey Newens our Administrator who sadly died last year. Sr Lorraine Parsons, our archivist, is moving to Yorkshire in due course to continue working with the archives there. It was a sad farewell, but we are so thankful for all that the staff at Church House having given over the past 69 years.

It was lovely to meet together for the afternoon with the current Provincial Board and members of past boards. Memories were shared and family news updates given. Many of us looked just a bit older but our memories of the place we loved and the staff that we worked with so fresh. It is right to give God the glory and thanksgiving for the past and to place our trust in God for the future. I am so pleased we were able to do it together with love on that Friday afternoon.

Sr Sarah Groves
Editorial Team