Blur guitarist leads fight to save Camden Road Spiritualist Temple
Graham Coxon has urged his followers on Twitter to object to plans to demolish Rochester Square Spiritualist Temple off Camden Road - Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
Graham Coxon has joined forces with spiritualists to object to the demolition of Rochester Square Spiritualist Temple in NW1.
'Spiritual squatters' have been living in the Rochester Square Church off Camden Road for almost two weeks. Picture: Dieter Perry - Credit: Archant
Blur guitarist Graham Coxon has led lent his support to a group of spiritualist campaigners fighting to save the Rochester Square Spiritualist Temple on the Camden Road.
The temple, which had its foundation stone laid by Sherlock Holmes author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is to be converted into nine flats and an art gallery by Urban-lab.
The guitarist, who lives in Camden Town and is alleged to have made communication with his late grandfather at the temple, tweeted: “An important spiritualist temple for which Sir Arthur Conan Doyle layed the foundation stone is under threat!
“It makes me very sad. I have had beautiful experiences in the temple. It’s a very important building.. it’s interior has incredible murals…and an amazing original wooden alter. The building is 6 yrs shy of being 100 yrs old so it’s tragic if it’s demolished now. Can you help?”
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle laid the founding stone for Rochester Square Spiritualist Church - Credit: Psychic News Magazine
Coxon was described by fellow local, Noel Gallagher as “one of the most talented guitarists of his generation.” Another patron of the church was Hannen Swaffer, who also laid a foundation stone in 1926.
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According to Psychic News Magazine, the Spiritualists’ National Union did not inform the president and committee of the temple, who were waiting for the church to be refurbished and re-opened after falling into disrepair, had told them the building was to be sold.
Amongst concerns about the preservation of history and culture, objections by members of the public included suggestions that the flats disregarded Camden Council’s own rules for preserving the conservation area, that those buried in the temple garden would be dishonored by the new building, and that homes in Julian Court and 29-36 Rochester Square would be overlooked by the new development.
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One resident wrote: “I am appalled of the plans that have been submitted in destroying this old beautiful church.”
'Spiritual squatters' took over the Rochester Square church almost two weeks ago - Credit: Archant
The church is no stranger to controversy having been occupied by a rival group of spiritualists back in 2014. The Rainbow Family of Living Light ran its own healing and yoga classes whilst squatting.
The deadline for objections is today (Thursday 17th), link here.
