The Hippodrome building in Golders Green has been brought by a Christian megachurch whose founder has been accused of concealing child sexual abuse, allegedly committed by his late father as reported in The Guardian.

The previous owners, Markaz El Tathgheef El Eslami (Centre for Islamic Enlightening) bought the building in 2017. They had planned to use the building as an Islamic place of worship and community centre but were unable to secure a change of use license.

Their applications to turn the former theatre from a “church” to a “place of worship” were delayed by Conservative councillors in August. The application was expected to be brought back to the committee with further information on 30th November.

Now that the building has been sold, some residents and councillors are saying an Islamaphobic campaign against the application prevented the Markaz from finding a home for their community (see a comment piece from Jack Mendel).

The Golders Green Residents Environment Group, led by Alan Jacobs, campaigned against the planned mosque on the grounds that traffic and congestion would disrupt the area. Barnet Council received 902 objections and 756 letters in support of the application.

The new owners, Hillsong, plan to hold Sunday service at the church. Alan Jacobs told Jewish News, who broke the story in October, “Church use is generally on a Sunday, which Golders Green is better able to cope with.” The Church operates in 30 countries with 12 branches in the UK counting pop-star Justin Beiber as a member until earlier this year.

Hillsong was founded in Australia in 1983 by Brian Houston. The Guardian report that in October Brian was charged by Australian police for concealing sex crimes committed by his late father against a male minor.