The building at the corner between Woolwich street and Powis street in north London looks impressive and resembles that of a film theater.
Pedestrians might have seen the large word “Cathedral”, and it could have been the Tabernacle of Christ’s Faith – the headquarters of Nigeria’s Pentecostal Apostolic Movement.
New Wine Church, the Nigerian Pentecostal Church with the biggest congregation in Nigeria is located near an Art Deco Movie Theater. African Pentecostal Association occupies the building.
Presently, 99 cinemas make a difference in the UK. Nanaksar Gurdwara (a Sikh temple) in Coventry has not been a cinema for many decades, but rather a place of prayer.
Since 2022 I’ve researched these sites and worked with leaders and church members of the communities to compile a database rich in insights about religious traditions of other countries.
Re-examining the Use of
While the UK’s empty churches pose a danger to religion, the UK Census 2021 shows that the religious population is in decline. In the past 10 years, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists all increased.
This population increase hasn’t led to the construction of more churches for certain groups. Many minorities prefer to use secular structures as prayer rooms and places of worship.
Immigrant religious groups are increasingly rehabilitating existing buildings, particularly as cinemas have declined since the 1980s. This has led to the creation of larger urban public spaces and communities that can be used for social events.
The early cinemas are often very cheap, and the government had listed so few of these buildings for destruction or for major renovations that obtaining planning approval for a new use was comparatively easy.
Salford’s King’s Theater Chapel Street was an 18th-century Scottish Presbyterian church before it became a film in the 1980s. This building underwent a major renovation in the early 20s. In the 1980s the Christian Mass Society managed this historic building.
Kent Tamil Association, which began converting it to a Hindu sanctuary in 2017, has been working on transforming the King’s Theater (originally built in 1910) into an auditorium. In this beautiful interior, there is lots of room.
Sri Swarna Durgai Amman Mosque is a beautiful and spacious space with freestanding golden temples that are illuminated from above by the skylights. The white marble walls, and ceilings create a vibrant and airy atmosphere.
Worshippers are able to worship in traditional dress and even barefoot thanks to the underfloor heat. Incense, spices and other scents from adjacent rooms are wafted into the prayer room. The kitchen offers catering service.
Aziziye Mosque in Stoke Newington North London opened in 1983 on the site of an Apollo Picture House built in 1913. The Turkish-Islamic Union of Great Britain paid for the project, which saw the demolition of the Apollo Picture House and the installation of elaborate mosaics on the building’s facade.
Old Buildings Renovation
When buildings with great historical significance are listed on the National Register, conversions can involve bureaucratic challenges and be expensive.
Many religious communities choose to convert old cinemas into their homes. Some organizations even use them as venues.
London is home to 14 Ecumenical churches of the kingdom of God, a Brazilian Pentecostal Church. Three are in old cinemas that have been restored to an excellent historical standard. The buildings of two are on the list! They have also applied to the London authorities for permission to construct a cinema in order to purchase it, even though they are not operating at that location.
The historic Ace Cinema in Harrow (North London), located at Rayners Lane, is a Zoroastrian firework venue. It hosts its own fireworks shows.
Freedom Center International Church of Welling in Kent and Potters House Church of Leyton in East London invested heavily into restoring the meeting rooms, both of which were not listed. Residents of protected buildings do not need to go searching for remnants.
Christ’s Faith Tabernacle Community bought Woolwich’s Grade I listed church, Woolwich’s Grade 2, in 2011 for 5 million PS. The church’s renovation and purchase was unaffordable (and costly) after the money the trustees spent to operate the bingo hall before its collapse. It was too expensive (and costly) to buy and renovate the church after operating the bingo hall for decades before it collapsed.
Many religions consider movie theaters sacred. Many religious groups require movie theaters like the one in this picture. Their church, which is perfect for Pentecostal worship services with hundreds of worshipers on stage at once, provides exactly that.
The benefits outweigh any practical problems. My manager said that he had given it religious status for the benefit of the local community. This allows the building to be called a cathedral.
Why renovate the old church instead of turning it into an old-fashioned movie theater? Older churches may have religious practices that are in opposition to the newer church.
The ordinance could prevent the religious organization from buying the listed building.
King’s Theater Thanet may not return to Edwardian architectural style, but its use as a religious place is a testament to the strength of this building.
To ensure the primary function of the structure, it is essential to honor its entire history.