Muriel Lester

Muriel Lester

Muriel Lester was a middle class philanthropist who found her calling in the east of London. She established Kingsley Hall in Bow, named in memory of her brother, who died in 1914. It served as an educational and social hub for the working classes and unemployed, through which Lester also spread her spiritual and Christian message. Having visited Gandhi’s ashram at Sabarmati in India, she invited him to stay with her during his London visit. Although he also took up a Kensington office for political work, he stayed with Lester throughout. She worked to publicise Gandhi’s visit in advance, organised for a radio broadcast to the USA from Kingsley Hall, and accompanied him on his morning walks around the east end. Inspired by her time with Gandhi, Lester would continue to spread her pacifist message through the International Fellowship of Reconciliation and through several visits to India.

Reproduced with permission of the Kingsley Hall Community Centres Heritage Committee and the Bishopsgate Institute.