In keeping with my London Shoes way of covering off lesser known and the more unusual aspects of London and its history – last week Shoes visited a historic, well known and much used building in Westminster – specifically for the purpose of attending a music event very different from the norm……namely:-
“FLEETWOOD MAC – STRING QUARTET by CANDLELIGHT”
at the
“METHODIST CENTRAL HALL-WESTMINSTER”
The ‘Central Hall’ is a venue that I am quite familiar with in a personal capacity…..let me explain.
Throughout the 1990’s via a work-related initiative (ie an initiative sponsored by my employer-Barclays Bank) – I joined a voluntary mentoring scheme run by The Passage, a charity that that worked with the homeless.
Basically – I voluntarily mentored selected homeless ‘clients’ on a 1:2:1 basis, over a 9 month period – with a view to getting them off the streets – into sheltered accommodation and hopefully encouraging them back to part, or full time employment.
I undertook this mentoring role for roughly 12 years – and at that time (ie the 1990’s) 66% of Britain’s homeless were living on the streets of Westminster and its surrounding districts.
In some instances, it was certainly a challenge, and very frustrating – but in other instances it was extremely rewarding – as I had the privilege of spending time with people from all different backgrounds, who showed me a level of civility and sincerity and honesty that I had never experienced before – it certainly taught me a thing or two about life.
Anyway – I’m digressing again….sorry. The reason I made mention of the above, is because the ‘Central Hall-Westminster’ and in particular its large café/restaurant in its basement – is the place where I would initially meet up with my designated ‘client’ – and in some cases, would continue meeting up with them there every week, over the 9 month mentoring tenure.
So – I am very familiar with the Central Hall and its layout – but I had never actually attended a formal function there – so last week’s visit was a Shoes first from that perspective and it was great to be returning there once again.
The Methodist Central Hall is an impressive building with a lot of history behind it.
Central Hall is located on the corner of Tothill Street and Storeys Gate – off Victoria Street–Westminster–London SW1.
It was built in 1912 -and is what they call architecturally, a Viennese Baroque design with a self-supporting domed ceiling
Apart from being the Methodist Church’s most prominent building – Central Hall has also, throughout the decades – been a venue where some of the world’s leading figures have at one time or another in history, have held public meetings and delivered key speeches etc.
It was a place where, at the begging of the 1900’s, the Suffragettes held some of their most powerful and influential meetings – conveniently, just across the road from Parliament.
The Hall soon became a prime venue for holding current affairs type meetings and events.
In 1931 Mahatma Gandhi visited Central Hall to deliver a conference speech.
Sir Winston Churchill visited Central Hall many times to deliver some important speeches. On American Independence Day back in 1918 he delivered a speech praising the USA support for the War Effort. In 1942 he addressed a conference of coal miners and pit owners. In 1945 he addressed the Conservative Party Conference that was being held there.
Also, during WW2 the Methodist Central Hall basement was used as an air-raid shelter – where it could give shelter to up to 2,000 people.
In 1946 Central Hall hosted the first ever meeting of the ‘United Nations’ .
The Central Hall was the site where in March 1966, at a Stanley Gibbons Stamp Exhibition – the Jules Rimet World Cup trophy was stolen. (it had been on display ‘securely’ as part of the exhibition). The theft was followed a couple of days later, by a ransom letter demanding £15,000 for its return – rather weird really, as some of the stamps on display at the exhibition, were worth £millions !!!!
Anyway – a week later, Pickles the dog, out for a walk with its owner, found the famous football trophy (which England captain Bobby Moore would lift later that year, when England beat Germany 4-2 in the World Cup Final at Wembley) wrapped up in old newspaper beside the front wheels of a car parked up in Beulah Hill-Upper Norwood-South London.
In 1968 Central Hall hosted ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’ the very first public performance of work by the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber – and interestingly, for that performance, his dad played the Hall’s organ and his brother Julian played cello in the orchestra – so it was a proper family affair.
The Hall has also been the venue for many public enquiries – the ‘Bloody Sunday’ – the ‘Marchioness Disaster’ – the ‘Ladbroke Grove Rail Crash’ enquiries were all held in its Lecture Hall.’
Central Hall is a very much in demand venue for film/tv/video production companies – one of the most famous productions where loads of scenes were filmed at Central Hall is ‘The Crown’. Also, many a Royal Wedding event has been filmed from the Central Hall roof – as its right next door to Westminster Abbey.
This iconic building is quite rightly protected by its Grade II Listed status.
Its ‘Great Hall’ can accommodate up to 2,300 people – and I reckon there must have been about that many in attendance at the “Fleetwood Mac – String Quartet by Candlelight’ my London Shoes went to last week (accompanied by Mrs Shoes)…..the place was mobbed!!!
These ‘Mac’ events have been up and running for about 3 years now, but its in the past 12 months or so that they’ve become really popular with tickets selling out within a very short time of them going on sale.
The string quartet is made up of 2 violins a viola and a cello. The 2 violins play the higher pitched melody lines and the vocal parts. The viola provides the mid-range harmony melodies and some of the textured type bits. The cello provides the low harmony stuff – replacing the bass and drum parts musically.
The String Quartet’s set-list running order for the Methodist Central Hall event my London Shoes attended last week, comprised of 12 ‘Fleetwood Mac’ classics, selected from their big selling ‘Fleetwood Mac’ – ‘Rumours’ – ‘Mirage’ – ‘Tango in the Night’ albums:
**Everywhere – (from the ‘Tango in the Night’ album)
**Gypsy – (from the ‘Mirage’ album)
**You Make Loving Fun – (from the ‘Tango in the Night’ album)
**Never Going Back Again – (from the ‘Rumours’ album)
**Don’t Stop – (from the ‘Rumours’ album)
**Gold Dust Woman – (from the ‘Rumours’ album)
**Go Your Own Way – (from the ‘Rumours’ album)
**Landslide – (from the ‘Fleetwood Mac’ album)
**Little Lies – (from the ‘Tango in the Night’ album)
**Songbird – (from the ‘Rumours’ album)
**Rhiannon – (from the ‘Fleetwood Mac’ album)
**The Chain – (from the ‘Rumours’ album)
As a musical experience the “Fleetwood Mac – String Quartet by Candlelight” event was definitely something different from the norm – performed by 4 extremely talented musicians who also provided a running commentary of the back story to each number – to a packed Central Hall.
A very enjoyable night out – listening to a selection of quality all-time classic ‘Mac’ songs.
These types of orchestral music events that are hosted in church type venues, are becoming more and more popular – and, in London Shoes opinion, are well worth checking out.
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Below is the entire gallery of photos and images accompanying this blog article
The Methodist Central Hall is located on the corner of Tothill Street and Storeys Gate – off Victoria Street-Westminster-London SW1. It was built in 1912 -and is what they call architecturally, a Viennese Baroque design with a self-supporting domed ceiling
Apart from being the Methodist Church’s most prominent building – Central Hall has also, throughout the decades – been a venue where some of the world’s leading figures have at one time or another in history, have held public meetings and delivered key speeches etc.
Another view of ‘Central Hall’ (in the rain) – with a unique ‘gold’ post box across the road from it – a legacy left over from the 2012 London Olympics
The Methodist ‘Central Hall’ Westminster is also the location where, throughout the 1990’s – I used to conduct my mentoring chats with some of London’s homeless.
Me & my London Shoes at the corner of Tothill Street and Storeys Gate – off Victoria Street-Westminster…..the site of the Methodist Central Hall.
Central Hall has long been a prime venue for holding current affairs type meetings and events – and these days even music concerts/performances
Me & my London Shoes – outside the main entrance to Central Hall.
From the steps of Central Hall you can see globally famous London landmarks like ‘Big Ben’ (or the Elizabeth Tower to give it it correct title)
Directly across the road from Central Hall is Westminster Abbey. In fact, the roof tops of Central Hall are much in demand by tv prodiction companies across the planet – when the Abbey hosts a Royal Wedding
I am very familiar with the Central Hall and its layout – but I had never actually attended a formal function there – so last week’s Although I was familiar with Central Hall when mentoring the homeless during the 1990’s – me and my London Shoes had never been there for a formal/official function or event – So, from that perspective, it was great to be returning there once again last week.
Central Hall was a place where, at the begging of the 1900’s, the Suffragettes held some of their most powerful and influential meetings – conveniently, just across the road from Parliament.
In 1931 Mahatma Gandhi visited Central Hall to deliver a conference speech.
Mahatma Gandhi at Central Hall in the early 1930’s
In 1946 Central Hall hosted the first ever meeting of the ‘United Nations’
Central Hall was the site where in March 1966, at a Stanley Gibbons Stamp Exhibition – the Jules Rimet World Cup trophy was stolen. (it had been on display ‘securely’ as part of the exhibition).
Anyway – a week later, Pickles the dog, out for a walk with its owner, found the famous football trophy (which England captain Bobby Moore would lift later that year, when England beat Germany 4-2 in the World Cup Final at Wembley) wrapped up in old newspaper beside the front wheels of a car parked up in Beulah Hill-Upper Norwood-South London.
In 1968 Central Hall hosted ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’ the very first public performance of work by the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber
Me & Mrs Shoes (ie Angela) – queuing up outside Central Hall in the freezing cold and rain – waiting for the doors to open for the “FLEETWOOD MAC – STRING QUARTET by CANDLELIGHT” event
Inside the amazing Central Hall – Westminster (pre-concert)
Inside the amazing Central Hall – Westminster (pre-concert)
Inside the amazing Central Hall – Westminster (pre-concert)
Inside the amazing Central Hall – Westminster (pre-concert)
The Grand Hall of Central Hall – slowly filling up for the forthcoming ‘Fleetwood Mac-String Quartet’ event
Inside Central Hall – (pre-gig)
Inside Central Hall – pre the ‘Fleetwood Mac-String Quartet’ event
Inside Central Hall – pre the ‘Fleetwood Mac-String Quartet’ event
Inside Central Hall – pre the ‘Fleetwood Mac-String Quartet’ event
Inside Central Hall – pre the ‘Fleetwood Mac-String Quartet’ event
Me & my London Shoes – inside Central Hall – pre the ‘Fleetwood Mac-String Quartet’ event
The 4 musicians checking out the stage and vibe of Central Hall pre their ‘Fleetwood Mac-String Quartet’ performance
The String Quartets chairs positioned exactly where they need to be on stage amongst the candles
Me & Mrs Shoes – in our seats and eagerly awaiting the ‘Fleetwood Mac-String Quartet by Candlelight’ performance
The ‘Great Hall’ of Central Hall can apparently accommodate up to 2,300 people – and I reckon there must have been about that many in attendance at the “Fleetwood Mac – String Quartet by Candlelight’ my London Shoes went to last week
The string quartet for the ‘Fleetwood Mac’ performance is made up of 2 violins a viola and a cello. The 2 violins play the higher pitched melody lines and the vocal parts. The viola provides the mid-range harmony melodies and some of the textured type bits. The cello provides the low harmony stuff – replacing the bass and drum parts musically.
The String Quartet’s set-list running order for the Methodist Central Hall event my London Shoes attended last week, comprised of 12 ‘Fleetwood Mac’ classics, selected from their big selling ‘Fleetwood Mac’ – ‘Rumours’ – ‘Mirage’ – ‘Tango in the Night’ albums – Here’s me at home with their self titled ‘Fleetwood Mac’ album
Here’s me at home with my Fleetwood Mac “Rumours” album – one of the biggest selling albums of all time.
Here’s me at home with my Fleetwood Mac ‘Mirage’ album
Fleetwood Mac’s 1987 released ‘Tango in the Night’ album – of which a couple of numbers from it were played by the String Quartet.
The String Quartet performing their ‘Fleetwood Mac by Candlelight’ set in the Great Hall of Central Hall Westminster
The Central Hall audience were lapping up the String Quartet’s performance of Fleetwood Mac classics
The String Quartet performing their ‘Fleetwood Mac by Candlelight’ set in the Great Hall of Central Hall Westminster
These types of orchestral music events that are hosted in church type venues, are becoming more and more popular – and, in London Shoes opinion, are well worth checking out
All in all a very enjoyable night out – listening to a great selection of quality all-time classic ‘Mac’ choons – London Shoes loved it.
A very interesting article Fleetwood Mac know your talking, fantastic band glad you and Angela enjoyed it 😀 👍
It’s another interesting blog, a nice mix of London history, social history, and a little of your personal .
history and then of course your love of music., can’t go wrong😉.
Question – candles, how many, real or l.e.d.?
You know what I’ll say but it’s always appropriate ‘Fascinating’ 👍
Love the pictures and the background information.
Brilliant
In the 70s I remember going there several times to hear Dr William Lloyd-Webber playing the organ. He was brilliant.
Well, that’s interesting information about your mentoring experiences. Sometimes people just need to know that someone believes in them!
As for the concerts, I’ve been to several candlelight concerts here in the United States – Vivaldi, Coldplay, The Beatles – which were enjoyable, but the venues were nowhere near as impressive as this one. I will try to go to one next time I visit London.
Fascinating story! Many thanks. I remember this place as CityLit used it as the venue for major Deaf Day trade show events about two decades ago while CityLit was being rebuilt.
Interesting, as ever, Geoff. Especially learning about your mentoring role. It is easy to judge but it is even easier for people to hit a rough patch and find themselves in that position. Instead of people’s judgment they need help and encouragement to get them back on the right path.