Union Chapel, Islington

Union Chapel stands at the north end of Upper Street in Islington, London. Built in the late 19th century in the Gothic Revival style, it is a Grade I-listed building designed by James Cubitt. The chapel replaced an earlier classical building on the same site, which had become too small for the growing congregation. Two Liberal prime ministers, William Ewart Gladstone and H. H. Asquith, were once members of the congregation. Behind the church, a large Sunday School was built on the Akron Plan to accommodate 1,000 children. The solid tower was completed in 1889, adding to the building’s imposing presence. The chapel is worth the journey for its live entertainment and social work. It hosts around 250 events each year, ranging from music and film to spoken word and comedy. In 2002, 2012, 2014 and 2026, it was voted London’s Best Live Music Venue by readers of *Time Out* magazine. The Margins Project, based in the chapel, provides support for people facing homelessness, including advice on benefits, showers, laundry and employment programmes. The chapel’s organ, designed by Henry ‘Father’ Willis in 1877, is one of the last remaining hydraulic organs in the United Kingdom. Organ Reframed, an annual experimental music festival, has featured commissions from artists such as Hildur Guðnadóttir and Low. Visitors find a grand interior with seating for 1,700 worshippers and ornate screens hiding the organ behind the rose window. The chapel’s Gothic style, based on the church of Santa Fosca in Torcello, is unusual among non-conformist buildings. The former Sunday School, lecture hall and vestry block are separately Grade II* listed. The chapel has also appeared in films, including a major scene in *Who Dares Wins* (1982). Surrounding Highbury Fields offers open space just a short walk away, linking the chapel to the wider community.