St Sepulchre-without-Newgate in Holborn, widely known as the National Musicians’ Church, is set to ban non-religious events

A central London church that was a national hub for musicians for more than 70 years has rebuffed efforts by the acting bishop of London to persuade it to reverse a ban on “non-religious hiring” from the end of the year.

St Sepulchre-without-Newgate in Holborn, known more widely as the National Musicians’ Church, has rejected pleas from church figures and some of Britain’s most distinguished musicians to keep its doors open as an important concert venue and rehearsal space.



Despite long and robust discussions between Pete Broadbent, the acting bishop of London, and the rector and governing body of St Sepulchre, the church has declined to accept new bookings.



In talks, Broadbent stressed the importance of churches being open to the communities they serve. The acting bishop said: “The Church of England is called to be a welcoming, inclusive and engaging church. I have re-emphasised the importance of this to all those at St Sepulchre.”



UK's leading musicians fight church's ban on secular bookings Read more

Last month, the Rev David Ingall, who moved to St Sepulchre four years ago from the ultra-evangelical Holy Trinity Brompton, wrote to professional and amateur musicians and ensembles to say they could no longer make bookings from the end of 2017.



The decision to stop renting out space to musicians had not been easy, Ingall said, but added: “We have been conscious of the challenges of using a space dedicated to worship for non-religious hiring.”

The singer Aled Jones, the cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, the composers John Rutter and James MacMillan, and Judith Weir, the first female master of the Queen’s music, were among more than 50 signatories to a letter urging a reversal of the ban, saying they could not understand why the church was willing to abandon its “unique national cultural remit”.



More than 7,800 people signed a petition to “save the National Musicians’ Church”, which holds the ashes of Sir Henry Wood, founder of the Proms, in its north chapel.



Broadbent’s statement said the London diocese wanted to encourage stronger relationships between the C of E and the musical community, “including making it easier for musicians to access rehearsal and concert space”.



He announced that a website would be launched in November to provide “easy access to hire space and booking options for musicians in London, as well as be used as a tool to promote concerts and events.



“I do hope this will also allow us to help support and encourage new musicians, as they form ensembles, and bring together family, friends and the wider public to enjoy the creativity and celebration of God-given musical talent.”



Ingall said St Sepulchre would “always strive to be welcoming, inclusive and engaging”, but said he was disappointed that debate had focussed “on the negative of a cancelled hiring programme in one church, rather than the wider role the church continues to play”.



His statement said: “We have tried to get the balance right in our activities, and we have tried to communicate our passion for music. We have not always succeeded. I regret that and where we have caused upset, I and the PCC [parochial church council], are sorry.”



Since the arrival of Ingall and a group of worshippers from Holy Trinity Brompton as part of a “church-planting” programme, St Sepulchre has hosted a series of evangelical Alpha courses. Evangelical churches favour contemporary styles of worship, including rock bands, dancing, charismatic preachers and speaking in tongues, which leave many traditional Anglicans feeling excluded.



Richard Robbins, the founder of the campaign to save the National Musicians’ Church, welcomed the new website but said it was “sad that the actions of St Sepulchre have been the catalyst for this”.



Dr Andrew Earis, the director of music at St Martin-in-the-Fields and former director of music at St Sepulchre, said it was regrettable that the church had not changed its position “despite huge pressure from the musicians’ community, the diocese of London and the wider Church of England”.



St Sepulchre’s decision was “doing irreparable harm to the church as a whole”, he said.

