Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel facts for kids
The Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel is a special place of worship located in Hampstead, London. It's part of a group called the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, which is like a main organization for Unitarians in Britain. This chapel is also a Grade II Listed building, meaning it's an important historical building.
The Chapel Building: A Look Inside
The chapel you see today on Rosslyn Hill has a long history. It started as a simple wooden building way back in 1692! Over time, it was rebuilt. First, in 1736, and then a brick building went up in 1828. The current beautiful building was constructed between 1862 and 1885. It was built in the Neo Gothic style, which means it looks a bit like old medieval churches with pointed arches and tall windows.
Inside, you can find amazing art. Two of the chapel's colorful stained-glass windows were created by famous artists Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris. Another window was made by Henry Holiday. The chapel also has four special stone carvings by John Flaxman. You'll also see plaques honoring people who were part of the chapel's community, like Helen Allingham, who was the first woman artist allowed into the Royal Academy. The chapel's stone arches and high, pointed ceiling make it sound wonderful, which is why it's a popular place for recording music.
People Who Led the Chapel
The person who leads the chapel today is Kate Dean. Many important ministers have served the chapel over the years. Some of them include Stephen Lobb and Richard Amner. Rochemont Barbauld, whose wife was the well-known poet Anna Laetitia Barbauld, also served here. Other past ministers include Jeremiah Joyce and William Hincks.
A very important time for the chapel was during the 45 years when Thomas Sadler was the minister. He started in 1846 when he was only 24 years old. It was during his time that the current chapel building, the one you see today, was built.
Famous People Who Attended
Many interesting people from Hampstead have attended the Rosslyn Hill Chapel. The famous novelist George Eliot sometimes came to the chapel after it was built in 1862.
Politicians also worshipped here. John Wood was a trustee of the chapel. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Preston from 1826 to 1832. He was a strong supporter of the Great Reform Act 1832, which was a law that changed how people could vote in Britain. Another politician was William Lawrence. He was the Lord Mayor of London (a very important leader of the city) in 1863 and 1864. He also served as an MP for the City of London several times.
