Pride 2025 Celebrated Through Art, Song, and Community

1 July 2025

Thanks to all who celebrated Pride month with us, including our Sunday School Stories community co-produced art & song exhibition 'Rainbow Streets: Then & Next' in collaboration with our neighbours at the Estorick Collection.

Cristina Carrasco, our Participation Manager who leads on all our Sunday School Stories activities, reflects “We are celebrating Islington’s Heritage as a vital part of cultural expression: we aim to emphasize Union Chapel’s ethos as an iconic music and arts hub with a strong sense of community and Social Justice at its heart! Co-producing our heritage activities with new audiences through creative learning is a fantastic way to promote meaningful participation”

See the artwork, play the soundtrack, and see how our communities reacted below...

Artwork co-produced with local Year 9 students at Elizabeth Garrett School, inspired by Islington's rich LGBTQIA+ heritage, was proudly displayed from our bar ceiling. Our archive volunteers, Laura and Lucy, researched the Islington Local History Centre's Pride archives to inspire the artworks, revealing a wealth of LGBTQIA+ legacy – including gay youth clubs, local heroes, same-sex marriage licenses, and more - all of which feed into our culture and community today.

See the archival materials in our poster here.

Accompanying the exhibition is a soundtrack of songs by inspirational LGBTQIA+ artists, submitted by our community and audiences. The playlist is a testament to the global LGBTQIA+ community, spanning genres and life experiences, flowing through both party vibes and reflective moments.

Play the soundtrack loud and proud here!

See the tracklist and submitters in our poster here.

Includes submissions from friends at Little Village, Old Fire Station Holloway Neighbourhood Group, Single Homeless Project, Speech Karaoke, Rainbow LGBTQ+ staff network North London NHS Foundation Trust, and more.

Thanks to everyone that came to our exhibition viewings, and Union Chapel audiences that could view the exhibition when they attended live shows from 11-29 June. Here's what attendees enjoy the most;

"The wide selection of documents detailing Islington’s pride history. I didn’t know Islington had the first openly gay Mayor for example!"

"The uniqueness of the playlist taking inspiration from different cultures and ages but staying within the LGBT+ theme"

"The LGBTQ Heritage presentation was amazing! A wonderful knowledgeable speaker and a whole history of Islington LGBTQ+ community.  Would like to see this again"

"Seeing first hand the results of engagement activities with the local community"

"I really enjoyed the talk on Islington Pride and learning more about Union Chapel's project."

"I most enjoyed the presentation highlighting life for LGBT artists in the very early years as introduced me to interesting brave characters."

"The fantastic and moving artwork by local young artists"

"The opportunity to know the programme and the future projects of the Union Chapel."

The archive volunteers who lead the research reflect on their time working on the project:

“This project explores and celebrates the rich LGBTQ+ history of Islington, with a particular focus on the power of resistance, solidarity and allyship that continue to resonate today. Learning more about the human stories in these archives and responding creatively offers a meaningful way to connect the past to the present, and to imagine a vibrant, inclusive future.” - Laura, Pride archive research volunteer

“I have found the sessions at the Islington Local History Centre Pride archive really informative. The material I have looked at has provided a moving insight into the history of the LGBTQ+ community in Islington. It is inspiring that Union Chapel is focusing on this group in its Sunday School Stories project.” – Lucy, Pride archive research volunteer

Ahead of the exhibition, Learning Officer at the Estorick Collection, Luca Nasciuti said, "As our collection focuses on Italian modern art, this project embodies our commitment to the local community by introducing young people to experimental art practices and techniques represented in our collection that still resonate today. I look forward to seeing how students will respond to our displays in the creation of a new series of works that celebrate young perspectives on the local LGBTQIA+ experience."

We're proud to have joined with such a wide community of young students, supportive neighbours and partners, and you as our audience contributors to honour LGBTQIA+ individuals and organisations for their advocacy, solidarity, inclusivity, and cultural contributions.

The exhibition was recognised and praised by local press such as London Daily News, Islington Life, London Post, and BBC Radio London Robert Elms [listen from 1:15:00 here] as well as attendees; proving that activities such as Rainbow Streets: Then & Next are important for bringing heritage and equality into focus through arts, culture and community for a better tomorrow.

Want to get involved with future free Sunday School Stories community co-produced, heritage-inspired, cross-arts activities? Find out how here.

Sunday School Stories is made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery Players
as well as City Bridge Foundation, The Clothworkers’ Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, The Wolfson Foundation, Foyle Foundation, Benefact Trust, National Churches Trust, The Rose Foundation, Friends of Union Chapel, Islington Archeology & History Society and Individual supporters

And that's not all!

On 25 June, we invited LGBTQ+ Communities and Allies in NE London to share ideas of what we'd like to see happening locally with and for the LGBTQIA+ Community. Adults of diverse age and backgrounds came to dicuss and enjoy a two course Buffet Supper in a friendly and informal space, in collaboration with Union Chapel, Rainbow Communities, London Metropolitan University's Rainbow Room, Melanin Vybz and House of Rainbow.

Plus Union Chapel's Pride celebrations wouldn't be complete without our church Pride Weekend Service on Sunday 6 July at 11am. All are welcome, find out more here.