Wonder how many secrets lie behind that seemingly ordinary shopfront? This is the entrance to the Westminster Quaker Meeting House. It is a place of peace and contemplation hidden in Covent Garden.
Westminster Quaker Meeting House has been a sanctuary for the Religious Society of Friends since 1883. The unassuming entrance at 52 St. Martin’s Lane belies the rich history. It offers a quiet space for worship in the heart of London.
Let’s step inside and explore its story. Quakers first gathered in Westminster in the mid-1600s. They initially met in the Strand and near Westminster Abbey. These early gatherings faced persecution. Despite the challenges, the community persevered. Eventually, they rented a space on St. Martin’s Lane where the Duke of York’s Theatre now stands.
In 1883, the present Westminster Quaker Meeting House opened. It provided a permanent home for the growing congregation. The Meeting House continued to function during the first part of World War Two. In 1941, bombs damaged the building. The Quakers were invited to use Church House near Westminster Abbey until repairs were complete. The Meeting House reopened in its present form in 1956.
Hubert Lidbetter designed the rebuilt Meeting House in 1954-1956. He incorporated the basement and outer walls of the original 1883 structure. Lidbetter was a significant Quaker architect. He was also responsible for Friends’ House on Euston Road.
The building has two entrances. One is from St. Martin’s Lane. The other is from Hop Gardens. The main entrance on St. Martin’s Lane leads through a passage. This passage is part of the listed building at number 52. The neo-Georgian shopfront dates back to the mid-twentieth century. It is not clear if the shopfront and vaulted ceiling are part of Lidbetter’s design.
The Hop Gardens side features a utilitarian design. London stock brick and arched window openings define this facade. Lidbetter essentially remodeled the 1883 building.
From the vaulted passage, hardwood double doors lead to a lobby. This lobby now serves as a library. The library retains its oak chimneypiece and high oak dado paneling from 1883. These features survived the wartime bombing.
Two pairs of oak doors open into the meeting room. This large space is lit from above. Clerestory windows run along the north and south walls. A tall rectangular window stands on the east wall. The meeting room features a woodblock floor and oak dado paneling. The paneling showcases a streamlined 1950s design. A pine dais is set within a recess on the north side.
Two long open-backed oak benches sit on the dais. Oak chairs furnish the meeting room and library. These chairs were crafted by Gordon Russell’s Broadway Works.
The Westminster Quaker Meeting House is in the Covent Garden Conservation Area. It lacks a prominent townscape presence. It stands behind Georgian buildings on St. Martin’s Lane. It is also behind plain brick elevations facing Hop Gardens.
Bertrand Russell married Alys Pearsall Smith here in 1894. Russell recounted that wedding guests preached about the Miracle at Cana. This offended his bride’s teetotal sensibilities. Richard Morris Smith captured the wedding in a drawing.
Today, the Westminster Quaker Meeting House continues to be a vibrant center. It is a place for worship, reflection, and community. Meetings for worship occur on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. All are welcome to attend.
As you leave, remember the layers of history. Consider the resilience of the Quaker community. Reflect on the peace found within these walls. The Westminster Quaker Meeting House stands as a testament to enduring faith. It is a quiet oasis in the bustling city.