Sunday services at St Margaret’s Westminster, the parish church of the House of Commons, have been abolished, its staff sacked and its world class professional choir and eminent organist, Thomas Trotter, have been dismissed in a short-sighted and very sad decision by the Dean & Chapter of Westminster Abbey.  Please sign this petition to help the lively, enthusiastic congregation of this lovely church to persuade the Dean & Chapter to restore our Sunday services.

There has been a church on the site of St Margaret’s next to Westminster Abbey since the 12th century. In 1614 it became the Parish Church of the Palace of Westminster. It has a regular congregation of between 70 and 120 people and more than 250 on the Community Roll.  Services at the church are spiritually uplifting and beautifully led by our priest vicars and the choral music is absolutely exceptional.

But on 3rd July the new Dean of Westminster Abbey, Dr David Hoyle, announced without warning that “it is no longer appropriate or viable to maintain Sunday worship at St Margaret’s.” This lack of consultation is unique to what are known as Royal Peculiars. St Margaret’s and Westminster Abbey are Royal Peculiars and subject only to the jurisdiction of the Queen and not subject to the usual rules about consultation and approval for controversial plans. Effectively the Dean can do what he likes. And he has.   The Abbey authorities have been keen for some years to close the church.  The sacking of the boy choristers last year was the first real indication of the beginning of the end. 

We, the congregation, are shocked.  The Dean & Chapter are hiding behind the COVID-19 epidemic as an excuse.  They give part of the reason for closure is as the impossibility of resuming worship with all the complications of social distancing and health and safety in the wake of the pandemic.   The real reason is that the Abbey wants the building for other purposes and regards the congregation as a nuisance to be removed.   Ideas apparently range from a home for the Westminster Abbey Institute, a gallery, a place for conferences and as a base for BBC outside broadcasts at the Abbey.  Ironically the congregation are quite open to the use of the church for other purposes on weekdays and could have been consulted before this decision was made. 

The Abbey sees no obstacle to removing the congregation.    It suits the Dean & Chapter very well to ensure that memorial services and weddings for Members of Parliament continue to be held at St Margaret's, thereby not occupying the Abbey which can then encourage the lucrative tourist trade and stage grand ceremonial services. 

Another reason given is lack of finance but our Sunday service is largely paid for by donations and the boy choristers from a bequest. We have not been allowed to have sight of the finances of the Abbey and St Margaret’s.  In fact, we are told that the costs of St Margaret’s are not recorded separately from those of the Abbey which makes us question how this supposedly measured financial decision could have been made.  There are reasons to be inquisitive about the financial transparency and management of the Abbey and St Margaret’s. It is difficult to know whether the Dean and his colleagues are on top of their own institution’s financial situation, and whether this affects the wisdom of their decision-making.

Is the Church of England so awash with members that it can afford to dismiss a thriving congregation?  We think not.   

We, the congregation of St Margaret’s, would like to have the opportunity to meet again in fellowship in our church.  If you feel able to help us overturn the Dean's decision please sign this petition.  Thank you.