Churchgoers are to protest over plans to introduce parking charges they claim will hit central London congregations.
Conservative-run Westminster Council is proposing to charge motorists to park on Sundays and weekday evenings.
Church members say this will affect thousands of people who attend services and run community activities.
The council said it recognised the Church's role in the
community but it also had to provide a "reasonable expectation" of
finding a parking spot.
Church members plan to hold a gathering outside a Westminster's City Council meeting later to demonstrate against the proposals.
Traffic demands
Currently, with the exception of some areas under 24-hour
resident parking controls, parking charges in central London end at 1830
on a Saturday until Monday morning.
The council said its proposed parking policy addresses a
number of complex issues, including managing the traffic demands of the
West End, the availability of resident and visitor parking and improving
loading and waiting facilities.
Councillor Lee Rowley said the
authority had a "duty to everyone who lives, works or visits the heart
of the capital to ensure they have a reasonable expectation of finding a
place to park".
He said research showed it was now more difficult to park in
some parts of the West End on a Sunday and weekday evenings than on
weekdays.
But members of the Church say many families and older people
will not be able to afford to go to church if the charges are approved.
They claim dozens of community projects, including support
for the homeless, activities for elderly people, subsidised meals for
the local community and activities for children and young people, would
be affected.
Father William Pearsall from Farm Street Catholic church,
Mayfair, said: "Our volunteer community activities are really valuable
and would present a huge loss to the local community if these plans
affect our volunteers."
Michael Beckett, Church Warden of St George's in Hanover
Square, said: "Sunday parking charges will seriously damage the
spiritual heart of the city, and limit the good works undertaken by all
the central London churches".
Churchgoer Stacey Hughes said: "Hundreds of volunteers and
congregation members would be restricted from providing vital support to
the community."
The results of a consultation on the proposal are being analysed and the council is due to make a decision in August.