In a significant spiritual homecoming, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has successfully reclaimed its historic first London temple at 7 Bury Place through a recent auction. The organization secured the freehold five-storey building for £1.6 million (approximately Rs 19 crore), marking an emotional return to its UK roots.
The Historic Acquisition
The 221 square meter (2,379 square feet) property, currently housing a dental practice, offices, and therapist, holds profound historical significance for the Krishna consciousness movement in the Western world. ISKCON London, which has been expanding rapidly, utilized organizational funds and supporter contributions to purchase the building that served as their inaugural UK temple.
According to sources familiar with the acquisition, ISKCON had been actively searching for properties when 7 Bury Place unexpectedly appeared in auction listings. Devotees immediately recognized the opportunity to reclaim what Praghosa Das of ISKCON UK described as "our spiritual birthplace in the UK."
The Beatles Connection and Humble Beginnings
The story of 7 Bury Place dates back to 1968 when ISKCON founder A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada dispatched three American couples to establish a base in England. Among them was Shyamsundar Das, who later explained that "the scene, the centre of activity, was shifting from San Francisco to London in 1968."
The six devotees faced tremendous challenges upon arrival in the UK, struggling with limited funds and harsh weather conditions. They initially used a warehouse complex in Covent Garden as their temporary temple space. The breakthrough came in December 1968 when Shyamsundar met Beatles legend George Harrison at an Apple Records party.
Harrison, already familiar with the Krishna movement, became instrumental in securing the Bury Place location. When Mukunda Das, one of the American devotees, found 7 Bury Place near the British Museum, Harrison served as co-signee on the lease and provided financial support. This enabled Prabhupada to fulfill his condition of only visiting London once a formal temple was established.
Spiritual Legacy and Full Circle Moment
In December 1969, Prabhupada and the devotees moved into the Bury Place temple, marking a historic milestone: the first time Radha-Krishna deities were installed in a Western temple. The location quickly became a spiritual hub, but by 1972, the growing congregation had outgrown the space, with devotees reportedly sleeping on the stairs.
The expansion led George Harrison to purchase Bhaktivedanta Manor, while the Radha-Krishna Temple relocated from Bury Place to Soho Street in 1978, where it remains operational today.
The reacquisition of 7 Bury Place represents a complete spiritual circle for ISKCON in the United Kingdom, reconnecting the organization with its humble beginnings and celebrating the enduring legacy that began over five decades ago with the help of musical icons and dedicated devotees alike.
