The award-winning Union Chapel began its life as a London music venue in 1992 and now boasts a global reputation – artists that have taken to its stage include Amy Winehouse, Adele, U2 and Celeste.

The space also doubles up as the heart of the Islington community with regular events, a supportive service for people in need and a place of worship.

This three-year project will deliver an engaging activity programme, co-created with and for the community, as well as essential repairs to the Grade II* listed Sunday School building. Alongside this, an archive of some of the greatest moments in Union Chapel’s history will be created.

The Sunday School Stories capital and activity programme is an incredibly exciting moment for us at Union Chapel. This is an opportunity for us to reflect on 30 years as a venue and a charity...

Michael Chandler, Union Chapel Project CEO

The Sunday School building

Union Chapel’s Sunday School sits with the Grade I listed Gothic Revival chapel, designed by Thomas Cubitt. It is one of only a few remaining Akron plan halls, a scheme from the 19th century that designed buildings to house Sunday Schools to educate the local community.

The building has fallen into disrepair and the grant will help to preserve its unique architecture and heritage, bringing it back to life for the community to use.

Union Chapel’s legacy

The Sunday School has a huge undocumented archive of records, books, artefacts and memorabilia from the past 200 years. From the 100-year church history of Nonconformists at the establishment, to how it became one of the UK’s most respected music venues.

The project will:

• transform the collection into a fully catalogued archive, accessible both physically and online
• enable people to see posters from legendary concerts
• showcase everyday life at Union Chapel with insights into the lives of real local people

Community at the heart

Union Chapel is a familiar setting for Islington. The community will be able to get involved throughout the project, whether as a volunteer to help discover lost history or by taking part in a pre-gig heritage tour.

Creating this vital, unique space open to all – for supporting and empowering communities, for supporting upcoming talent and for creating a blueprint for genuine creative, community co-creation and change to address injustices – is vital now and for our future.

Michael Chandler, Union Chapel Project CEO

Michael Chandler, Union Chapel Project CEO, said: “The Sunday School Stories capital and activity programme is an incredibly exciting moment for us at Union Chapel. This is an opportunity for us to reflect on 30 years as a venue and a charity, and over 200 years of Nonconformist history through the Church, with an incredible role in social justice across the years. 

Creating this vital, unique space open to all – for supporting and empowering communities, for supporting upcoming talent and for creating a blueprint for genuine creative, community co-creation and change to address injustices – is vital now and for our future.”

Find out more

Follow the progress of the project on the Sunday School Stories website or discover some of the other amazing projects we've funded across London & South.