Surrey Chapel, Southwark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Surrey Chapel |
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The Chapel when in use as The Ring
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| Location | Blackfriars Road, Southwark, London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Methodist, Congregationalist |
| History | |
| Founded | 8 June 1783 |
| Founder(s) | Rowland Hill |
| Dedicated | 1783 |
| Architecture | |
| Closed | 1881 |
| Demolished | 1942 (& partially in 1881) |
The Surrey Chapel was a special church in London, built in 1783. It was started by Rev. Rowland Hill. Later, Rev. James Sherman and Rev. Newman Hall continued his work.
This chapel was unique because it was round with a domed roof. When it was first built, it stood in open fields. But soon, the area around it became a busy industrial place. The chapel closed in 1881. Today, an office building stands where the chapel once was.
Contents
Chapel's Early Days
Building the Surrey Chapel began in 1782. It officially opened its doors in June 1783. People like Selina, Countess of Huntingdon, who supported Dissenting churches, helped fund it.
Rowland Hill, the first pastor, famously said that a round building would stop the Devil from hiding in corners! He was also very interested in health. He set up a successful vaccination center at the chapel. Hill was buried under the pulpit, but later moved to a new church called Christ Church.
Music and Missions
The Surrey Chapel was more than just a church. It was a place for music, singing, and meetings for many charities. The famous composer Benjamin Jacob was once the organist there. Thousands of people came to hear him play. Rowland Hill believed that churches should have good music. He once asked, "Why should the Devil have all the good tunes?"
The chapel was also closely linked with the London Missionary Society. For over 60 years, this society held its main yearly sermon at Surrey Chapel. Many well-known missionaries, like Robert Moffat and John Williams, were sent out from here.
A Place for Everyone
Surrey Chapel welcomed many different religious leaders. Both official church figures and other ministers preached there. This included Henry Venn and Rev. Thomas Scott.
In 1835, James Sherman and his wife Martha took over. Their teamwork helped the chapel grow even more. Sherman also worked to improve burial practices for everyone, no matter their religion.
Because of its open-door policy, Surrey Chapel became a popular spot in London. Many different groups held meetings there. It was even the site of London's very first Sunday School.
Growing Community Efforts
The chapel's activities grew so much that they needed more space. They helped many people in the area, especially the poor. They opened new places for Sunday schools and other programs.
One of these new places was a temperance hall, which taught people about avoiding alcohol. It was renamed Hawkstone Hall after Rowland Hill's birthplace. They also used Lambeth Baths for extra Sunday services, lectures, and music.
The Surrey Chapel's educational programs became very large. It was the center of 13 Sunday schools. Four of these were evening ragged schools for poor children. They also had day schools in different locations. More than 5,000 children were taught by over 400 teachers!
Moving to a New Home
By 1859, the chapel leaders decided to move. They bought land nearby to build a bigger complex. This new site included a large church, Christ Church. It also had lecture halls and school rooms.
The new complex featured the Lincoln Memorial Tower. This tower honored Abraham Lincoln and the fight to end slavery in America. The chapel's pastor, Christopher Newman Hall, was a strong supporter of this cause. The congregation moved to the new location in 1876. Many of the groups connected to Surrey Chapel moved with them.
After the move, Rowland Hill's original chapel was used for different purposes. It was even used by the Primitive Methodists for a while. In 1881, parts of the building were taken down and rebuilt for business use. A newspaper reported that its demolition removed "another familiar landmark of London's social and religious history."
Later Life of the Building
Even after 1881, much of the original building remained. It was still recognizable until it was bombed during The Blitz in Second World War.
One of its most famous uses after being a church was as 'the Ring'. This was a boxing arena that opened in 1910. Dick Burge and his wife Bella Burge ran it. They made it a popular place for working-class audiences. Bella even became the first woman to attend a boxing match in 1914. Her friend, the famous actress Marie Lloyd, also became a regular visitor.
Today, a modern office building called Palestra stands on the site of the Surrey Chapel. Transport for London uses this building. Across the street is Rowland Hill House, an apartment building named after the chapel's founder.
It's important not to confuse this Surrey Chapel with Surrey Chapel in Norwich. That one was founded in 1844 and is still active today.
More to Read
- Rev. Newman Hall D.D. (1868). Sermons with A History of Surrey Chapel and Its Institutions. New York: Sheldon
