Keir Starmer's favourite church

Sir Keir on a visit to St Martin's. Image: NCT

Source: National Churches Trust

During the election campaign, and before he became Prime Minister, Keir Starmer MP revealed to the National Churches Trust his favourite church, St Martin's Church, in Gospel Oak, London.

Keir Starmer, said: "One of the many privileges of being Leader of the Opposition is that I get to see so many churches across the country. While it is impossible to pick just one, I immediately think of St Martin's Church, in the appropriately named Gospel Oak, which is part of my constituency of Holborn and St Pancras. I regularly meet people from the community whose lives are made better by the work that they do."

"I have always enjoyed visiting St Martin's and witnessing the impact of their work first-hand. During the pandemic, I was humbled to meet and thank volunteers delivering food alongside Queen's Crescent Community Association. More recently, I met local leaders and volunteers to hear about the vital work they do for the local community at Christmas. At St Martin's, the team and congregation, go above and beyond, time and time again."

"St Martin's is a wonderful church and a beacon of hope for the wider community. As with many thousands of churches around the UK, St Martin's is an ordinary church doing extraordinary things. A place of safety, spirituality and service for so many."

Responding to the results of the UK General Election, Sir Philip Rutnam, Chair of the National Churches Trust, said: "The new Government inherits a country with stressed public finances and strained public services. Imagination, ingenuity and leadership are all going to be needed - and the state will be in no position to solve every problem. But there is one national resource, sometimes overlooked by politicians and policy makers that can help: the UK's network of 38,500 churches and chapels."

"The social and economic value provided to the UK from churches is at least £55 billion a year - that's roughly twice as much as total public spending on adult social care. Churches remove immense burdens from the NHS every day. But the future of church buildings - where this amazing work happens - is now at risk as never before. With so many closing or at risk, urgent action is needed by the new Government in partnership with local communities.

"With 66 per cent of UK adults saying they think that churches are important for society and 68 per cent saying that they are an important part of our heritage and history, the new Government can be sure that saving the UK's churches for the future will have the overwhelming support of the public."

The National Churches Trust is the UK's leading independent charity supporting churches right across the UK to remain open and in use. Since 1953, we have provided funding of over £130 million to support the UK's church buildings. We work with churches of all denominations and are UK-wide, providing support, training and advice to keep UK churches open and in good repair.
See: www.nationalchurchestrust.org