Important Update from Church Army regarding the Sanctuary
Church Army announced on the 6th June that The Sanctuary – the Marylebone Project’s 24-7 drop-in supporting vulnerable women in London – will sadly be closing on the 4th July.
Over its lifetime, The Sanctuary has supported hundreds of women experiencing rough sleeping, domestic abuse, trafficking, and complex trauma – providing access to safety, dignity, and personalised wraparound support.
In February 2025, Church Army announced it needed to make a wide range of cuts to bring the charity to a position of financial sustainability, following several years of reliance on historic reserves. As part of those moves it announced it would be moving on from the Marylebone Project, and discussions around the future of the Project began.
The trustees and leadership team would like to take this opportunity to express publicly our thanks to so many people who have contributed to the life of the Sanctuary. Our dedicated staff have served with such care and compassion, and the dedication of many fundraisers, corporate sponsors and trust funds who have made this project possible. This is a project that has brought hope and healing to hundreds of women facing the most serious difficulties in life.
While we are deeply saddened by the closure of the Sanctuary, we remain thankful for the good that has been accomplished during its lifetime.
The accommodation work of the Marylebone Project, which currently accommodates 112 women, continues as Church Army works with an interested external third party regarding the potential sale of buildings and continuation of the work.
Matt Barlow, Church Army’s CEO, says: ‘This closure is not a reflection on the need – if anything, that need is more pressing than ever. It’s a reflection on the difficult funding environment many of us are navigating. We are grateful to our team and partners who provided care, safety and dignity to women whose needs are too often overlooked.’
If you are concerned for the safety or welfare of any woman who doesn’t have safe shelter, you can reach out to Streetlink to raise your concerns here: https://thestreetlink.org.uk/location
