The Gravel Pit Chapel was established in 1715–6 in Hackney, then just outside London, for a Nonconformist congregation, which by the early 19th century began to identify itself as Unitarian. In 1809 the congregation moved to the New Gravel Pit Chapel nearby, while its old premises were taken over by Congregationalists. The New Gravel Pit Chapel was closed and demolished in 1969.
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History
The Gravel Pit Chapel was established in 1715–6 in Hackney, then a village north-east of London, for a Presbyterian congregation seceding from that of John Barker, after the death of Matthew Henry. It took its name from the gravel pit near the bowling green in Mare Street.
In 1809 the congregation moved to new premises in Paradise Place in 1809, and began to identify itself as Unitarian. The original building, from then on known as the "Old Gravel Pit Chapel", was taken over by Congregationalists. The New Gravel Pit Chapel was rebuilt in a Gothic style in 1857, and remained in use until its closure and demolition in 1969, although between 1940 and 1953 services were held in the church hall due to bomb damage. The former Old Gravel Pit Chapel still exists; in 2004 it was in use as a shoe factory. It was later described as being at the west end of Retreat Place, a row of almshouses.
Original Gravel Pit congregation
The Mare Lane congregation went back to William Bates (1668).
New Gravel Pit Chapel
The Unitarian New Gravel Pit congregation first met on 4 November 1810, in a new building designed by the architect Edmund Aikin, nephew of Anna Letitia Barbauld, who provided his services without charge. It included Charles Hennell, David Ricardo and Daniel Whittle Harvey.
In 1858 the chapel was rebuilt in a Gothic style, to the designs of Arthur Ashpitel.
Old Gravel Pit Chapel (Congregationalist)
In 1810 a congregationalist group, who had seceded from the Ram's Chapel in Homerton after the death of John Eyre, leased the old Gravel Pit Chapel, then in Morning Lane, Hackney. They had gathered from 1804 at Homerton College.
The last service in the Old Gravel Pit Chapel was held in 1871. The congregation moved to the new Round Chapel, on the Clapton Park Estate, in Upper Clapton. From 1874 there was an Old Gravel Pit mission in the building.