Heritage Workshops

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Sunday School Stories | Heritage Workshops

Nov 2024 - May 2025, we provided the tools and know-how in taster workshops for lovers of DIY, architecture, sustainability, or those who experience barriers to heritage or skill-building.

Fullers Builders are hard at work on crucial repairs and exciting renovations to our Sunday School Hall to bring this space to its full potential. Joining with Union Chapel's Sunday School Stories Project, they also offered the opportunity to share their craft of traditional Carpentry, Roofing, Brickwork and Plastering.

Each workshop ran 9am - 3pm, for people aged 18+, in Union Chapel's Sunday School Hall amongst the live retrofit capital works.

  • 8.45am-9.15 Briefing and Breakfast
  • 9.15am Heritage Introductory Talk in the Chapel by Friends of Union Chapel
  • 9.45am – 1pm Workshop
  • 1pm- 1.30pm Lunch
  • 1.30pm – 3pm Workshop continues
  • 3pm Experience Concludes

*Applications now closed*

 

Meet the facilitators:

Essential capital works are underway on our Sunday School Hall to bring the space back to the community with improved accessibility to a space for upskilling, amplifying the voices of the underrepresented, and breaking down barriers to culture and creativity through engaging participatory activities and emerging artists and leaders of the future. Fullers Builders are a traditional building contractor that has been trading since 1872.

What to expect?

  • Meet the Union Chapel team for a delve into our architecture, design, and heritage.
  • An introduction to the conversation industry.
  • An overview of the craft skill.
  • Typical tasks that a craft operative would be expected to undertake.
  • Precautions and risks associated with the craft.
  • Personal protective equipment that would typically be adopted.
  • The tools and equipment that allow the craft operative to undertake their duties.
  • Workshop.
  • Discussion & Q&A’s.
  • Sunday School Hal hard-hat site tour.
  • Certificate of participation.
  • Lunch and refreshments provided.
  • New skills.
  • Like-minded community connections.

 

Photos and Feedback

We've captured the atmosphere of what's been going on with quotes from participants, and beautiful photos from creative volunteers, together sharing the immersive, hands-on, enriching celebration of heritage and community.

Photos by David Peach: Group standing with wooden structure within the Sunday School Hall, Woman drilling into wood, Woman measuring wood, man measuring wood

"It was inspiring to see creativity and craftsmanship come together for a meaningful purpose."
"An incredibly valuable experience, and we appreciate the opportunity to contribute through arts and creativity in such a hands-on way."
"Our group had a fantastic experience, and we loved seeing how practical skills can be used to empower and support communities."

Click here to see photos and hear from those who are getting involved here.

 

And that's not all! Please see more ways we've brought arts & heritage to build stronger communities together.

ANTIQUE RESTORATION WORKSHOP | May 2024 

Under the guidance of conservator and facilitator Ethan Gallesio, five fantastic volunteers upskilled their heritage building skill to help sustainability, give new purpose to beautiful objects of the past, and bring together like-minded people as part of our community hub.

They learnt all about wooden furniture restoration, breathing new life into antique cabinets that will be part of our Sunday School Stories activities next year. Learn more about the skill-building and community spirit here alongside photos of the hard work and expert results plus beautiful sketches of the atmosphere captured by illustrator Florrie Ann Thomas.

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BUILDING A VICTORIAN STAGE | Jan 2024

Our creative community came together in our first #SundaySchoolStories Heritage Workshop to build a Victorian Stage recently rediscovered in our archive of hidden gems.

"The structure was not just a pile of old wood, it was a magical symbol of harmony that effortlessly joined us with itself in common purpose."

Photographers, fine artists, audio engineers, and filmmakers gathered alongside builders, joiners, and those wanting to get stuck in to heritage construction to take apart and rebuild this beautiful vintage piece, learning the intimate details and historic methods used in the Victorian era. 

Thanks to facilitators Triskele Building & Conservation and to all that participated by sharing craft and creativity in true community spirit.

See the beautiful photos and artwork, hear from the participants, and find out about the week of bustling activity here

 

Sunday School Stories will all be made possible thanks to support from 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, Friends of Union Chapel, The Rose Foundation, Islington Archaelogy & History Society, Union Chapel Members, and individual supporters, with thanks to the Mayor of London.