No room at the inn?

By Alexis Akwagyiram
BBC News

Black majority churches attract many worshippers

Some Pentecostal and Evangelical churches in London claim strict planning regulations discriminate against places of worship.

So where can they pray and what, if anything, can be done?

The heavy revolving door of west London's Paddington Hilton Hotel leads into an expansive reception area.

In a scene that could be from any hotel in the world, tourists sip hot drinks while they wait to check in or out.

But behind one of the hotel's many doors a packed room is filled by the sounds of clapping hands and people proclaiming "Amen!" in chorus.

The songs of praise are provided by the mainly African congregation of the Central London Fellowship of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

They say they have been forced to worship in the hotel since the church began three years ago, because they are unable to obtain planning permission to move elsewhere.

Pastor Tunji Adebayo, who delivers sermons at the church, said it is because places of worship are not allowed to move into areas earmarked for employment.

"It's frustrating. So many jobs are guaranteed by the fact that the church would employ large numbers of people.

We feel restricted because we need to have access to our church every day - at the moment our church is subject to the availability of rooms Pastor Tunji Adebayo

"It isn't valid to say it is leading to a loss of job opportunities. It's employing people."

He said his church, and many others like it, also acts as a community centre by offering youth centre services, childcare and mentoring.

At the moment the congregation numbers around 50, although he believes it would be far higher if their facilities were better.

Pastor Adebayo said: "We feel restricted because we need to have access to our church every day. At the moment our church is subject to the availability of rooms. And we don't always get the same room.

"And the cost of hiring rooms is huge. If we had our own building it would be a lot cheaper."

He went on to call for changes to the law to make gaining planning permission easier for people facing his predicament.

"There needs to be more flexibility in the law," he said.

"We would like to see the law say that, providing the premises has been empty for more than 12 months, it should be allowed to be used for alternative purposes, such as by a church."

Bucking the trend

Pastor Adebayo's desire for expansion is a sign of the growth of churches with mainly African and Caribbean congregations over the last decade.

Using figures based on the 2005 census, Christian Research, a religious think tank, found that a third of churches are growing, especially those with predominantly black congregations.

It found that churches in England have been in long-term decline since the 1950s, with an estimated one million people giving up regular churchgoing in the 1990s alone.

But churches with predominantly black congregations are bucking the trend.

Despite some 8% of the UK's population being from ethnic minorities, some 17% of people who attend church are from this background.

And in London 44% of churchgoers are black.

Maureen Aruede, one of the church administrators, echoed many of her pastor's points about the need for her church's expansion in order to meet demand.

We're having to fight to have our voice heard Bishop Mark Nicholson

She argued that, amid falling church attendance elsewhere, a place of worship that aspires to act as a community hub should be encouraged.

Mrs Aruede said the church's work was being hampered because the church was only able to hire seminar rooms in the hotel every Sunday and occasional Wednesdays.

"A church is like a treatment centre or hospital. People want a place of sanctuary to pray without a sense of inhibition," she said.

"People associate a hotel with all sorts of things. It's a place of sleep and fun - not a church. It can put people off. A church building immediately gives people a sense of belonging and relaxation."

Picking up on this theme, congregation member Nina Omoyeni pointed out that those with children sometimes struggle to attend or are forced to make childcare arrangements as there are no separate facilities for youngsters to attend Sunday School.

"It's not comfortable for children and adults to worship in the same place," she said, stressing the cramped conditions.

Pastor Adebayo and his congregation are not alone in voicing grievances on this issue.

Neighbours and parking

According to a report by CAG Consultants, there is a "huge unmet need for expansion" which has been held back by a lack of cultural awareness among planning authorities.

A spokeswoman from the Greater London Authority said it had commissioned a consortium led by CAG to research and report on the planning issues facing London's faith communities.

She went on: "As part of this, the researchers are carrying out interviews and arranging workshops with planning authorities and faith groups from across London.

"While the researchers have discussed some of their initial findings with these stakeholders, this is still work in progress and we cannot speculate about their conclusions or recommendations ahead of the report's scheduled publication in May 2008."

Pastor Adebayo, who also operates as property consultant specialising in churches, says he is acting on behalf of 350 who are seeking a move.

Relocation struggle

Bishop Mark Nicholson, of the Emmanuel Inspirational Church of God, says his is one such church.

He says his Croydon-based church, which has a regular congregation of about 250, was hampered by numerous setbacks over a three-year period settling at their current site.

Echoing Pastor Adebayo, he described a long-drawn out process to find a suitable building. And now, four years after finding a site, his church is struggling to relocate.

"We've seen buildings that we thought would be adequate, but there were problems with neighbours and parking facilities."

He said locals often feared noise and did not appreciate that his church could aid the wider community.

"We're having to fight to have our voice heard."