London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Sep 01, 2025

London music hall bought by megachurch engulfed in child sex abuse scandal after locals oppose plan to use it as Islamic centre

London music hall bought by megachurch engulfed in child sex abuse scandal after locals oppose plan to use it as Islamic centre

The historic Golders Green Hippodrome has been bought by the controversial Hillsong megachurch — whose founder has been charged with concealing child sex abuse — after locals protested plans to use it as a Shia Islamic centre.
Jewish News reported on Wednesday that Hillsong purchased the Hippodrome for an unreported sum from the Centre for Islamic Enlightening (Markaz El Tathgheef El Eslami) after it was prevented for several years from turning the former music hall into a venue for the Shia Muslim community.

The purchase is expected to be finalized in the “new year,” though contracts have already reportedly been exchanged between the two parties.

The Centre for Islamic Enlightening had purchased the Hippodrome in 2017, but its plans for the building were repeatedly opposed. The centre claimed religious discrimination was behind local opposition, and a 2017 letter signed by members of the Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and Sikh communities condemned “the hostile and at times racist response to the new Islamic centre’s opening.”

A spokesperson for Hillsong told Jewish News that it aims “to be a positive influence in the area” and that it recognizes the “significance of the building to the community.” They also said that the church was looking forward to “adding to the work of local churches and charities” through its “social action programmes.”

However, Hillsong – which was founded in Australia in the 1980s by evangelical leader Brian Houston – has been plagued with accusations of sexual abuse in recent years.

Houston’s father, Frank Houston – who was also an evangelical Christian pastor – was accused, following his death in 2004, of having repeatedly sexually abused children, and Brian Houston was accused of covering up his father’s alleged crimes.

Australian police charged Brian in August with the concealment of child sex abuse and ordered the megachurch founder to appear in court. He has denied the charges and his legal defense is ongoing.

Other accusations of rape and sexual assault have also been made towards pastors and members of the church.

Pastor Carl Lentz – who befriended and baptized pop star Justin Bieber – was accused of sexual abuse by a former staffer in May. Bieber has since left the church.

Despite the many accusations of sexual abuse, Hillsong has locations across Australia, the US, and the UK. The megachurch also has close connections with Australia’s ruling Liberal Party, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison being one prominent attendee of the church. Morrison is reportedly close friends with Houston and sought a White House invitation for the megachurch leader from former US President Donald Trump.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Chinese and Indian Leaders Pursue Amity Amid Global Shifts
European Union Plans for Ukraine Deployment
ECB Warns Against Inflation Complacency
Concerns Over North Cyprus Casino Development
Shipping Companies Look Beyond Chinese Finance
Rural Exodus Fueling European Wildfires
China Hosts Major Security Meeting
Chinese Police Successfully Recover Family's Savings from Livestream Purchases
Germany Marks a Decade Since Migrant Wave with Divisions, Success Stories, and Political Shifts
Liverpool Defeat Arsenal 1–0 with Szoboszlai Free-Kick to Stay Top of Premier League
Prince Harry and King Charles to Meet in First Reunion After 20 Months
Chinese Stock Market Rally Fueled by Domestic Investors
Israeli Airstrike in Yemen Kills Houthi Prime Minister
Ukrainian Nationalist Politician Andriy Parubiy Assassinated in Lviv
Corporate America Cuts Middle Management as Bosses Take On Triple the Workload
Parents Sue OpenAI After Teen’s Death, Alleging ChatGPT Encouraged Suicide
Amazon Faces Lawsuit Over 'Buy' Label on Digital Streaming Content
Federal Reserve Independence Questioned Amid Trump’s Push to Reshape Central Bank
British Politics Faces Tumultuous Autumn After Summer of Rebellions and Rising Farage Momentum
US Appeals Court Rules Against Most Trump-Era Tariffs
UK Sought Broad Access to Apple Users’ Data, Court Filing Reveals
UK Bank Shares Dive Over Potential Tax on Sector
Germany’s Auto Industry Sheds 51,500 Jobs in First Half of 2025 Amid Deepening Crisis
Bruce Willis Relocated Due to Advanced Dementia
French and Korean Nuclear Majors Clash As EU Launches Foreign Subsidy Probe
EU Stands Firm on Digital Rules as Trump Warns of Retaliation
Getting Ready for the 3rd Time in Its History, Germany Approves Voluntary Military Service for Teenagers
Argentine President Javier Milei Evacuated After Stones Thrown During Campaign Event
Denmark Confronts U.S. Diplomat Over Covert Trump-Linked Influence in Greenland
Starmer Should Back Away from ECHR, Says Jack Straw
Trump Demands RICO Charges Against George Soros and Son for Funding Violent Protests
Taylor Swift Announces Engagement to NFL Star Travis Kelce
France May Need IMF Bailout, Warns Finance Minister
Chinese AI Chipmaker Cambricon Posts Record Profit as Beijing Pushes Pivot from Nvidia
After the Shock of Defeat, Iranians Yearn for Change
Ukraine Finally Allows Young Men Aged Eighteen to Twenty-Two to Leave the Country
The Porn Remains, Privacy Disappears: How Britain Broke the Internet in Ten Days
YouTube Altered Content by Artificial Intelligence – Without Permission
Welcome to The Definition of Insanity: Germany Edition
Just a reminder, this is Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris.
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
×