Union Chapel, Islington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Union Chapel |
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The Union Chapel (October 2006)
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| Location | London Borough of Islington |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Congregationalist |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | James Cubitt |
| Years built | 1874–1877, additions through 1890 |
Union Chapel is a special place in Islington, London, England. It's not just one thing; it's a working church, a popular place for live shows, and a charity that helps people who are homeless. This amazing building was built a long time ago in the late 1800s. It has a cool Gothic revival style, which means it looks like old castles and cathedrals. It's so important that it's a Grade I-listed building, which is the highest level of protection for historic buildings in England. You can find it at the top of Upper Street, close to Highbury Fields.
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What is Union Chapel used for?
Union Chapel is famous for its live events. Imagine seeing your favorite band or comedian in a beautiful old church! They host about 250 events every year, including music concerts, movie screenings, spoken word performances, and comedy shows. People love it so much that Time Out magazine readers voted it London's Best Live Music Venue in 2002, 2012, and 2014. One big reason it's so popular is its amazing sound. The way the building was designed makes the music sound really clear and beautiful.
Helping the Homeless: The Margins Project
Union Chapel isn't just about music and history; it's also about helping people. The Margins Project is a charity based right inside Union Chapel. It offers lots of help to people who are homeless, going through tough times, or feeling alone.
They have a "drop-in" center twice a week where people can get advice about things like benefits. They can also use showers and laundry facilities, which are super important for people without a home. The project also has a special program to help people who have been homeless get back into jobs. Plus, they run a Winter Night Shelter, giving people a warm place to sleep when it's cold, and offer support like therapy.
Union Chapel Church: A Welcoming Community
At its heart, Union Chapel is still a church. It's a Congregational church, which is a type of Protestant church where each local church makes its own decisions. It's part of the Congregational Federation. The church welcomes everyone and describes itself as "An open community exploring and revitalising the faith in challenging times." They have church services every Sunday at 11 AM. The people at Union Chapel Church believe strongly in working for social justice, which means making things fair for everyone in society.
A Look Back: Union Chapel's History
The story of Union Chapel began a long time ago, in 1799. A group of people, including Anglicans (from the Church of England) and non-conformists (Protestants who weren't part of the Church of England), started meeting together in a house.
In 1806, they moved into a new chapel built on the same spot where the current building stands. This first chapel was a two-story building in a classical style. It even had schools for girls (started in 1807) and boys (started in 1814).
Later, a minister named Rev. Henry Allon took over in 1852. He was very popular, and the church grew so much that the building became too small! So, in the 1870s, they decided to build a brand new, much bigger church.
The church you see today was designed by an architect named James Cubitt. It was built between 1874 and 1877, with more parts added until 1890. Its Victorian Gothic style is quite unusual for a non-conformist church. It was designed to hold 1,700 people for worship and had a huge Sunday School Hall for 1,000 children. Even two former British Prime Ministers, William Ewart Gladstone and H. H. Asquith, were once part of the church community. The tall, strong tower was finished in 1889.
Because of its history and design, the chapel building was given a special Grade I listing in 1972, meaning it's a very important historic building. The old Sunday school building next to it is also listed as Grade II*.
Union Chapel has even been in a movie! A scene from the 1982 film Who Dares Wins was filmed there. Since 1982, groups like "Friends of Union Chapel" and "Union Chapel Project" have worked hard to save and look after these amazing buildings, organizing events and concerts to help raise money.
Ministers of Union Chapel
Here are some of the people who have led the church as ministers over the years:
- Thomas Lewis 1804–1852
- Henry Allon 1844–1892
- Hardy Harwood 1891–1914
- Charles James Barry MA (Cantab) ?
- Ronald Taylor 1940–1980
- Gareth Trevor Jones 1981–1986
- Janet Wootton 1987–?
- Karen Stallard 2010–2018
- Vaughan Jones 2017–present
The Amazing Organ
Union Chapel has a very special organ. It was built in 1877 by a famous organ maker named Henry "Father" Willis. He designed it specifically for the chapel's size and acoustics. The architect and the minister at the time wanted the organ's music to be the main focus, so they cleverly hid the organ behind beautiful screens under the rose window. This window, which shows eight angels playing musical instruments, actually hints at the organ's importance.
What makes this organ even more unique is that it's one of only two organs in the whole United Kingdom, and the only one in England, that still has a fully working original hydraulic (water-powered) blowing system. This means it can be played using water power instead of just electricity!
The organ has been carefully looked after and restored over the years, including by Harrison & Harrison in 2013.
Organists of Union Chapel
These are some of the talented musicians who have played the organ at Union Chapel:
- John Henry Gauntlett 1852–1861
- Ebenezer Prout 1861–1873
- Fountain Meen 1880–1909
- John Hooker 1973–2002
- Claire M Singer 2012–present
Organ Reframed: A Festival of Sound
Since 2016, Union Chapel has hosted an exciting annual music festival called Organ Reframed. This festival explores new and experimental ways to use the organ in music. It's put together by composer Claire M Singer, who is also the Music Director for the organ at Union Chapel. The festival works with groups like the London Contemporary Orchestra and Spitfire Audio. It has featured new music from many famous artists, including Hildur Guðnadóttir and Low.
See also
- The Union Chapel Concert – a live album recorded at the chapel in 1997 by Guy Evans and Peter Hammill.
