THE Methodist Church yesterday defended its decision to consider abandoning teetotalism at its national HQ in favour of cashing in with a drinks licence.

Trustees of Westminster Central Hall in London are discussing whether to apply for a licence for the numerous conferences and receptions held there every year. They say the move would help pay for a #8m refurbishment.

The move will be debated at the Methodist Conference in Scarborough next month.

Some Methodists are angry at what they see as a move away from the teachings of founder John Wesley, who called alcohol a dangerous narcotic which should be shunned.

The Rev Peter Graves, superintendent of the hall, said: ''We are not talking about wild parties or a bar. We hire out our conference facilities six days a week and recently we commissioned a marketing survey. What we got back time and again from our customers was that they loved our facilities, but wished they could hold a cheese and wine party or serve wine at a meal, which they can't do at the moment.

''Non-alcoholic wine doesn't really seem to have the same effect.''

The church's teaching on alcohol has been watered down in recent years, with many ministers advocating a ''responsible'' attitude rather than total abstinence.

Dr Graves said: ''The main reason for abstinence was that it was linked to social deprivation.

''Circumstances have changed since the 1930s, and, although it is still a problem, we would like to embrace a wider range of views.''