A Message from The Highbury Centre: A Season of Ministry at Aberdeen Park Comes to a Close

Since 1893, when Reverend George Patterson founded the Foreign Missions Club to welcome missionaries returning to London, this ministry has taken many forms — a first home in Highbury New Park, our beloved building here in Aberdeen Park since 1954, and the name The Highbury Centre since 2008. Through all of it, one calling has stayed the same: serving those who serve the Lord.

It is with heavy hearts, and after much prayer, that we share the news that this particular season, our home here at Aberdeen Park, will be coming to a close. Our guest house and meeting rooms will be closed to guests as of Friday 30th October, 2026, and we will not be accepting any new bookings from Tuesday 1st September, 2026.

Why we've made this decision

This has not been an easy road to walk and the decision was made prayerfully by the trustees. It reflects a combination of the prohibitive cost of bringing our historic building up to modern standards, a decline in occupancy rates in recent years, rising running costs, the changing needs of those we serve, the current economic and social climate, the evolving face of global mission, and the broader challenges of providing affordable accommodation here in London. Taken together, the trustees do not believe continuing in our current form would be a good use of charitable resources.

To our staff

Our staff has always been the heart of this place, and many have given years, in some cases decades, of their lives to it. We know this news affects not only their jobs but, for those who live here with us, their home too, and we don't take that lightly for a moment. We are walking through a formal consultation process with everyone affected, and our commitment is to support our team with as much care, honesty and dignity as we possibly can through this season.

To our guests

So many of you have stayed with us again and again over the years, and we know this place has felt like a home from home in London for a great many of you. We're truly grateful to each of you. If you have any memories of your stays at The Highbury Centre and would like to share them on our website and social media please email: memories@thehighburycentre.org 

We’re genuinely sorry for the inconvenience this causes those who booked a stay with us after our closing date and now must make other plans — we appreciate your understanding. We will be contacting all our affected guests directly with further details, but in the meantime, please see below for an outline of how bookings will be handled:

New bookings

• The Highbury Centre will take no new bookings from Tuesday 1st September, 2026.
• Anyone who would like to enjoy a stay for the last time is very welcome to book online before this date, with check-out on or before Friday 30th October, 2026.

Existing bookings

• Any existing bookings with a check-in date on or after Friday 30th October, 2026 will be cancelled, with those affected contacted directly.
• Where a booking spans this date, the stay will be shortened to a check-out date of Friday 30th October, 2026 rather than cancelled outright, unless the guest requests full cancellation and refund of the whole booking.
• All other bookings with a check-out date on or before Friday 30th October, 2026, will be honoured in full.

What comes next

The Highbury Centre, as a charity, is not closing. While the Aberdeen Park building will close its doors, our trustees are prayerfully considering how best to carry forward the mission and calling that have shaped us since 1893 into a new form. We don't have all the answers yet, but we trust God for what's ahead, just as this place has always done, and we'll share more as those plans take shape.

Thank you, from all of us, for being part of this story. We value your prayers for our staff and the future of the charity.

With deep gratitude,

Lourens Du Plessis
The Highbury Centre, Chair of Trustees

If you have any questions concerning this news please visit the dedicated FAQs page: Questions and Answers

Thank you to all those who are sharing their memories of staying with us. If you would like to read please visit the memories page: HERE