Hackney Round Chapel

The Round Chapel is a beautiful, historic building in the central hub of one of London’s most vibrant boroughs, Hackney.

The Grade II* listed chapel hosts an eclectic range of events, from theatre and musical performance to film shoots, weddings to boxing matches, beer festivals to the BBC’s Question Time.

Originally opened in 1871, its beginnings were with a nonconformist, congregationalist church established in 1804. East London was an important centre of the nonconformist movement – in other words, churches that would not conform to the rules of the established Church of England.
The population of Hackney was growing and The Clapton Park Chapel, known as the Round Chapel, was built to satisfy the needs of the growing congregation. It would go on to become one of the important nonconformist centres in East London.

The building is listed Grade II* on the National Heritage List for England in the top four percent of protected buildings in the country. The designation made specific mention of the chapel’s interior for its unique shape, and for the cast iron columns, which caused controversy at the time of building as they were typically only used in music halls and railway stations.

In 1991, Hackney Historic Buildings Trust agreed with the Clapton Park URC that HHBT would take over the main auditorium and ancillary rooms, while the adjoining Old School Rooms would be kept by the church. The Trust then worked with English Heritage, the Association of Building Preservation Trusts and Hackney Council to raise almost £1 million to repair and conserve the auditorium. This refurbishment received a Civic Trust Award in 1998.

HHBT owns and manages the Round Chapel as an arts and community venue, and manages St. Augustine’s Tower in nearby St. John’s Churchyard which it runs as an educational resource, by agreement with the owner Hackney Council.

Further venue details:

• The Round Chapel is licensed for civil wedding ceremonies
• Capacity of 240 banqueting style
• Licensed for civil wedding ceremonies
• Grand Piano
• Suitable for aerial rigging
• Power 3x 32 Amp Three Phase Supply
• Chairs and tables included in hire
• Meeting/dressing room and small domestic kitchen
• Parking and Full Disabled access
• Polished wooden floor and excellent natural light

https://www.facebook.com/RoundChapel
http://www.roundchapel.org

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