Westminster Central Hall
London SW1

Westminster Central Hall is one of the chief centres of Methodist church. 

The vast meeting hall was built to mark the centenary of the death of John Wesley (1703 - 91), the founder of Methodism. 

To raise money for the project the Wesleyan Methodist Twentieth Century Fund was set up in 1898.  This was popularly known as the 'Million Guinea Fund' because a million Methodists were encouraged to give a guinea each. 

The competition to design the new building was won by Lanchester & Rickards and the hall was built on the site of the old Royal Aquarium in 1905 - 12.  The huge building, a florid example of the Beaux Arts style, occupies an entire block of land opposite Westminster Abbey. 

Its Classical style is a great contrast to the medieval Gothic of its ancient neighbour.  Built to a roughly square plan, and surmounted by a huge dome, the building not only houses the main hall but also numerous offices.  An elaborate staircase leads to a landing on which stands a statue of John Wesley and behind this lies the main hall. 

The Central Hall is famous for housing the first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in 1946.   A plaque on the Tothill Street façade marks this occasion.  

Although the hall has been used for countless other non-religious meetings and conferences it still continues to play a leading role in modern Methodist worship.