Not many churches have been blessed by the presence of Stewart Lee, Amy Winehouse and Adele — but then Union Chapel is no ordinary church.
Standing in the heart of the Islington community for 200 years, Union Chapel hosts religious services, homeless drop-ins, around 250 music and comedy performances a year, not to mention a sell-out annnual carol concert.
It is arguably one of the most fascinating churches in the city — certainly in the diversity of the events it stages — and now, thanks to a £1 million Lottery grant, that history will be properly documented in an archive.
Union Chapel's adjoining Grade II* listed gothic revival Sunday School is home to an impressive yet un-curated archive of records, books, artefacts and memorabilia. The collections contain everything from the ceremonial trowel used to lay to foundation stone of the current chapel building (constructed in the late 1800s, to house a swelling congregation), to photos and posters of the many acts who've played at the chapel down the years — and including U2, Jack White and Celeste.
Now, the archives will be properly restored and fully catalogued — made available to the public physically, and online.
The Sunday School building itself — built in the 19th century to cater for 180 under-privileged children, and saved from demolition in the 1980s — will undergo essential repairs as part of the plans. Once again, it'll become the community hub it was designed to be.
It's 30 years since the Union Chapel diversified into live music, during which time, readers of Time Out have voted it 'London's Best Live Music Venue' three times.
The archive and Sunday School project is expected to take three years to complete.
