Offer of church room is not generous

Published: 19 November, 2010

• READING Pip Granger’s letter (When the church and society have a falling out, November 12) about the offer of the Allen Room “annex” from St Anne’s Church for the use of the Soho Society, I wondered if she knew what she was writing about. 

As someone active at St Anne’s for 15 recent years, I am quite familiar with the space in question. “Annex” is an unfamiliar and fanciful word for the space. 

It is and always has been a hall-way, fire escape route and pathway to the loo. 

The church also uses it for storage. It is accessible only through the Allen Room or the parish office. It is gloomy and poorly lit. It couldn’t be used when the Allen Room is in use. It is neither a generous nor practical offer from the church to the society.

R O’DELL, Soho, W1