FORUM: Soho church eviction battle goes on

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Published: 3 December, 2010

Members of the conservationist group the Soho Society staged a sit-in at St Anne’s Church in Dean Street in protest at their eviction. Here, the society’s president Leslie Hardcastle surveys the history… 

ESTABLISHED in 1972, the Soho Society has worked over the last 38 years to make the village of Soho a better place in which to work, to live, to visit and enjoy. 

Our early endeavours insured that most of the interesting Soho buildings were listed and saved: that the unregulated growth of the sexploitation phenomenon was stemmed and that campaigns in respect of the survival of Soho small businesses and crafts were mounted. 

The society gave birth to the highly successful Soho Housing Association.  

The society still continues to remain true to the intentions of its founders. 

For the past 33 years its headquarters have been housed in one small room at the bottom of the tower of St Anne’s Church, Dean Street.   

This tower was all that remained of the church, which was completely destroyed by enemy action during the Second World War.  

St Anne’s tower remained derelict for 36 years until the society successfully led a campaign to raise funds to restore the tower and its famous clock. 

In 1988 the Soho Society, the Parochial Church Council and the Soho Housing Association came together to build the present building, comprising a large office component, shops, 20 social housing flats, a much-needed community hall and a chapel.  

The tower of the bombed church was then incorporated into the new structure. 

This was an endeavour in which the society and The Soho Housing Association played a major role. 

All the architectural drawings clearly show that the society office would continue to be accommodated within the tower and this came to pass. 

In August, after years of fruitful co-operation with St Anne’s, the society received from  the Parochial Church Council a notice to quit the office by November 30. 

Given the deep symbiotic relationship that has existed between the church and the Soho Society for over 30 years we are loath to do this. 

Alternative accommodation within the Rectory has been offered but is unsuitable and hampered by so many restrictions that the society would be unable to maintain its policy of easy accessibility.   

We have asked The Worshipful Nigel Seed QC, Chancellor of the Diocese of London, to adjudicate in this matter. 

We have asked the Rector of St Anne’s to allow the society to use the tower room until this matter has been considered and resolved.   

There is a petition in circulation, that you could contribute to. 

If you are not already a member of the society and agree with its work in Soho over the years – then now is the time to take out membership.  You would be most welcome. 

• Leslie Hardcastle is the president of the Soho Society. To sign the petition visit http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/thesohosociety/