Details About the Church   HISTORICAL INFO   20th Century Fund   In 1898 the Wesleyan Methodist Church set up the 20th Century Fund to mark the centenary of John Wesley's death (1703-1791). The aim of the fund was to raise '1 million guineas from 1 million Methodists'. Regardless of wealth each donor was only allowed to donate one guinea. This was to finance a 'great push forward of Wesleyan Methodism'. The fund closed in 1904 having raised 1,024,501 guineas (£1,075, 727).   £250,000 of this money was allocated to the building of a 'monumental Memorial Hall' that would not only house a worshipping congregation and the headquarters of the then Wesleyan Methodist Church but would also be a meeting place for all people, regardless of religious persuasion. It was also to be of 'great service for conferences on religious, educational, scientific, philanthropic and social questions'.   This building opened in 1912 and is known as Methodist Central Hall. The 50 volume leather-bound Historic Roll, containing the names of all those who donated to the 20th Century Fund, is located adjacent to our Visitor Services Desk. Every day we welcome visitors who come to see the names of their ancestors who contributed to the building of this great monument.   Unique History   Throughout its history Methodist Central Hall has played host to events of national and international importance: The Suffragettes, campaigning for the vote for women, met here in 1914. Mahatma Gandhi addressed the Temperance movement here in 1931. During the second world war General de Gaulle announced the foundation of the Free French movement to the world here in 1940.   As the war drew to a close, Winston Churchill addressed the Conservative Party Conference in the Great Hall in 1945. His opening words to them were "Victory is certain, victory is near".   Perhaps most famously, Methodist Central Hall was the chosen venue for the inaugural General Assembly of the United Nations in 1946. 51 member countries sent delegations and Prime Minister Clement Attlee welcomed the UN to 'this ancient home of liberty and order'.

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HISTORICAL INFO   20th Century Fund   In 1898 the Wesleyan Methodist Church set up the 20th Century Fund to mark the centenary of John Wesley's death (1703-1791). The aim of the fund was to raise '1 million guineas from 1 million Methodists'. Regardless of wealth each donor was only allowed to donate one guinea. This was to finance a 'great push forward of Wesleyan Methodism'. The fund closed in 1904 having raised 1,024,501 guineas (£1,075, 727).   £250,000 of this money was allocated to the building of a 'monumental Memorial Hall' that would not only house a worshipping congregation and the headquarters of the then Wesleyan Methodist Church but would also be a meeting place for all people, regardless of religious persuasion. It was also to be of 'great service for conferences on religious, educational, scientific, philanthropic and social questions'.   This building opened in 1912 and is known as Methodist Central Hall. The 50 volume leather-bound Historic Roll, containing the names of all those who donated to the 20th Century Fund, is located adjacent to our Visitor Services Desk. Every day we welcome visitors who come to see the names of their ancestors who contributed to the building of this great monument.   Unique History   Throughout its history Methodist Central Hall has played host to events of national and international importance: The Suffragettes, campaigning for the vote for women, met here in 1914. Mahatma Gandhi addressed the Temperance movement here in 1931. During the second world war General de Gaulle announced the foundation of the Free French movement to the world here in 1940.   As the war drew to a close, Winston Churchill addressed the Conservative Party Conference in the Great Hall in 1945. His opening words to them were "Victory is certain, victory is near".   Perhaps most famously, Methodist Central Hall was the chosen venue for the inaugural General Assembly of the United Nations in 1946. 51 member countries sent delegations and Prime Minister Clement Attlee welcomed the UN to 'this ancient home of liberty and order'.     © Central Hall Westminster 2008