Trinity Independent Chapel
Encyclopedia
Now a Methodist chapel, the original Trinity Independent (Congregational) Chapel was designed in 1840-41 by William Hosking
FSA, at Poplar
, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
, and built by John Jay
.
With its large and elegant classical frontage in a combination of Grecian and Italian Renaissance styles, positioned to directly front onto the main East India Dock Road, this highly expensive chapel
building came to dominate its East London streetscene at a time when chapel architecture in the East End elsewhere was generally low-key.
The bold design, was financed by the philanthropic shipyard owner George Green, a prominent local Congregationalist
with non-denominational sympathies. Green was a contributor to many local causes in Poplar and Blackwall, wholly financing the former Sailor's Home, later Board of Trade offices at 133 East India Dock Road. This building still stands today only a block away from Trinity Church, beyond the Wesleyan Methodist 'Queen Victoria Seaman's Rest'. He also endowed 'George Green's School' (1828), which was rebuilt as the George Green Centre at Island Gardens, Tower Hamlets
in 1974-8.
The first Congregational
minister at Trinity Chapel was the Rev. George Smith (1803-1870), Secretary of the Congregational Union of England and Wales. His pink granite pedestal memorial can be seen today at the Congregationalists' non-denominational Abney Park Cemetery
in Stoke Newington
.
Probably the most noteworthy and influential twentieth century minister was the Rev William Dick. In an area of enormous deprivation Trinity became, under Dick's inspired leadership, a beacon of hope for the dispossessed and downtrodden. The church's efforts to help improve the lives of the local population, already struggling before being hit by 'the blitz', were seen as an integral part of its Christian mission.
Unfortunately, being located in the heart of industrial and commercial land-uses in the East End of London, Green and Hosking's magnificent chapel was destroyed in the bombing of East London in 1944. The chapel's replacement, on the same site at the corner of East India Dock Road and Augusta Street (Annabel Close) - the New Trinity Congregational Church or Trinity Congregational Church - formed part of the Exhibition of Live Architecture for the Festival of Britain
, 1951, at the Lansbury Estate
development (appropriately named after the well-known politician and later Labour Party leader who willingly went to prison for dispersing local tax money directly to the needy rather than passing it on to the LCC). The church was re-built somewhat experimentally in what was then considered a bold and very modern post-war style, using new materials such as concrete, and new building techniques. Social work continued to be a priority for the church community.
The only part of Hosking's
original chapel to survive the wartime bombing was the bell. This was incorporated into the new Congregational church, having been recast and repaired following its salvage from the bombsite. A more fitting icon from the original chapel would have been hard to imagine, since the bell had always been the subject of great debate. When George Green and William Hosking
agreed to include a bell in the design for the magnificent independent chapel, they fell foul of the local Anglican clergy. No previous independent meeting house, known to the localities' authorities at that time, had incorporated a bell in its design. This may have been a unique design innovation, possibly the first example of a church bell being incorporated into an independent chapel. The local parish authorities instructed Green and Hosking
to render the bell immobile to prevent it from competing with their parish church, by being rung! Gradually, as chapel design came more and more to adopt Anglican church architecture (the two often being indistinguishable by the late Victorian era), the bell was allowed to be unfixed. It rang in the old chapel for the last time on the morning war was declared.
William Hosking
William Hosking FSA was a writer, lecturer, and architect who had an important influence on the growth and development of London in Victorian times...
FSA, at Poplar
Poplar, London
Poplar is a historic, mainly residential area of the East End of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is about east of Charing Cross. Historically a hamlet in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex, in 1817 Poplar became a civil parish. In 1855 the Poplar District of the Metropolis was...
, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a London borough to the east of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It is in the eastern part of London and covers much of the traditional East End. It also includes much of the redeveloped Docklands region of London, including West India Docks...
, and built by John Jay
John Jay (builder)
John Jay was a building contractor and, earlier, a skilled stonemason, who owned a construction company located in the central City of London within Metropolitan London, England, during the 19th century and its period of rapid civic and railway expansion in the middle of the 19th century...
.
With its large and elegant classical frontage in a combination of Grecian and Italian Renaissance styles, positioned to directly front onto the main East India Dock Road, this highly expensive chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
building came to dominate its East London streetscene at a time when chapel architecture in the East End elsewhere was generally low-key.
The bold design, was financed by the philanthropic shipyard owner George Green, a prominent local Congregationalist
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
with non-denominational sympathies. Green was a contributor to many local causes in Poplar and Blackwall, wholly financing the former Sailor's Home, later Board of Trade offices at 133 East India Dock Road. This building still stands today only a block away from Trinity Church, beyond the Wesleyan Methodist 'Queen Victoria Seaman's Rest'. He also endowed 'George Green's School' (1828), which was rebuilt as the George Green Centre at Island Gardens, Tower Hamlets
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a London borough to the east of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It is in the eastern part of London and covers much of the traditional East End. It also includes much of the redeveloped Docklands region of London, including West India Docks...
in 1974-8.
The first Congregational
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
minister at Trinity Chapel was the Rev. George Smith (1803-1870), Secretary of the Congregational Union of England and Wales. His pink granite pedestal memorial can be seen today at the Congregationalists' non-denominational Abney Park Cemetery
Abney Park Cemetery
Abney Park in Stoke Newington, in the London Borough of Hackney, is a historic parkland originally laid out in the early 18th century by Lady Mary Abney and Dr. Isaac Watts, and the neighbouring Hartopp family. In 1840 it became a non-denominational garden cemetery, semi-public park arboretum, and...
in Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington is a district in the London Borough of Hackney. It is north-east of Charing Cross.-Boundaries:In modern terms, Stoke Newington can be roughly defined by the N16 postcode area . Its southern boundary with Dalston is quite ill-defined too...
.
Probably the most noteworthy and influential twentieth century minister was the Rev William Dick. In an area of enormous deprivation Trinity became, under Dick's inspired leadership, a beacon of hope for the dispossessed and downtrodden. The church's efforts to help improve the lives of the local population, already struggling before being hit by 'the blitz', were seen as an integral part of its Christian mission.
Unfortunately, being located in the heart of industrial and commercial land-uses in the East End of London, Green and Hosking's magnificent chapel was destroyed in the bombing of East London in 1944. The chapel's replacement, on the same site at the corner of East India Dock Road and Augusta Street (Annabel Close) - the New Trinity Congregational Church or Trinity Congregational Church - formed part of the Exhibition of Live Architecture for the Festival of Britain
Festival of Britain
The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition in Britain in the summer of 1951. It was organised by the government to give Britons a feeling of recovery in the aftermath of war and to promote good quality design in the rebuilding of British towns and cities. The Festival's centrepiece was in...
, 1951, at the Lansbury Estate
Lansbury Estate
The Lansbury Estate is a public housing estate in the Poplar area of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets named after George Lansbury, a Poplar councillor and Labour party MP.It is one of the largest such estates in London...
development (appropriately named after the well-known politician and later Labour Party leader who willingly went to prison for dispersing local tax money directly to the needy rather than passing it on to the LCC). The church was re-built somewhat experimentally in what was then considered a bold and very modern post-war style, using new materials such as concrete, and new building techniques. Social work continued to be a priority for the church community.
The only part of Hosking's
William Hosking
William Hosking FSA was a writer, lecturer, and architect who had an important influence on the growth and development of London in Victorian times...
original chapel to survive the wartime bombing was the bell. This was incorporated into the new Congregational church, having been recast and repaired following its salvage from the bombsite. A more fitting icon from the original chapel would have been hard to imagine, since the bell had always been the subject of great debate. When George Green and William Hosking
William Hosking
William Hosking FSA was a writer, lecturer, and architect who had an important influence on the growth and development of London in Victorian times...
agreed to include a bell in the design for the magnificent independent chapel, they fell foul of the local Anglican clergy. No previous independent meeting house, known to the localities' authorities at that time, had incorporated a bell in its design. This may have been a unique design innovation, possibly the first example of a church bell being incorporated into an independent chapel. The local parish authorities instructed Green and Hosking
William Hosking
William Hosking FSA was a writer, lecturer, and architect who had an important influence on the growth and development of London in Victorian times...
to render the bell immobile to prevent it from competing with their parish church, by being rung! Gradually, as chapel design came more and more to adopt Anglican church architecture (the two often being indistinguishable by the late Victorian era), the bell was allowed to be unfixed. It rang in the old chapel for the last time on the morning war was declared.