Union Chapel, Islington, London

Completed in 1877 by James Cubit, Union Chapel is often compared to a small cathedral with an original capacity of 1700. It is Grade I listed. The building was saved from dereliction and demolition by its local community and now benefits from an impressive programme of proactive maintenance.

During WWII, the Chapel suffered bomb damage, and over time its congregation steadily declined. Years of neglect caused major decay and by the early 1980s the building was under threat of demolition. The local community made a major effort to save the building, and, as it was designed with exceptional acoustics, held pop music concerts in the building to finance urgent repairs and maintenance works. In 1991 the Church founded Union Chapel Project (UCP), a secular charity organisation in charge of the maintenance and repairs of the building. Since then, great work has been done to repair the building, reduce the reactive maintenance, increase planned maintenance, preserve and make the building safe.  

Still a working congregational church, Union Chapel has become a much loved and award-winning venue for music, spoken word, charity events. The building is also home to Margins, a charity providing services to support homeless and people in long time unemployment in Islington.  

In the last 30 years UCP has been able to repair most of the building using traditional materials and techniques. The judges were impressed by the measures to improve maintenance management which have been introduced including: commissioning of quinquennial inspection; a communication system so that all staff report faults found around the building; an annual Operational Plan to include regular preventive maintenance, planned inspections, emergency repair works and major capital works; Heritage Camps and work days with volunteers including gardening and removal of plants from walls; regular drainage cleaning and unblocking; annual gutter cleaning; improving access for maintenance around the building and in roof spaces. Their emphasis exemplifies one of the SPAB’s core messages: regular maintenance. 

The success that Union Chapel enjoys today is due to the remarkable tenacity and resourcefulness of those involved to overcome the obstacles and maintain the building to high standards for future generations.