Free Open Days | 18 & 21 September 2022
8 September 2022
We’re opening the Union Chapel doors to all in our free open days coming this 18th & 21st of September. Come see what’s happening In Union
Discover what we do in the beautiful Gothic Victorian architecture of our Grade I and II* building, which is home to an inclusive church, an award winning live music, comedy, and screening venue, a unique organ, and The Margins Project for those in crisis in London.
HERITAGE OPEN DAY | SUNDAY 18 SEPTEMBER
A Highland Year by Chris Watson and Claire M Singer
Union Chapel will be transformed by sounds and rhythms echoing the seasonal shift of the Highland year with an installation by award winning artists Chris Watson (BAFTA winning Frozen Planet sound recordist and founding member of experimental band Cabaret Voltaire) and Claire M Singer (Ivor nominated and Oram Award winner, recently featured in '5 Minutes That Will Make You Love the Organ' by The New York Times).
Graphic scores based on the recording location’s ordinance surveys will be interpreted at key moments on the Chapel's historically important 1877 Father Henry Willis organ by James McVinnie, Katherine Tinker and Jacob Lekkerkerker.
The installation runs continuously from 1:30 - 4pm
Spring to Summer - 1:45 – 2:15pm
Summer to Autumn – 2:30 – 3pm
Autumn to Winter - 3:15 – 3:45pm
Also, in the Upper Hall workshops on building a one octave organ.
WOOFYT Family Workshops
Explore the connections between music, science, engineering and technology. The WOOFYT makes these connections visible and audible, linking music in a simple and direct way with the physics of fluids and the technology of pumps and valves.
Session 1 at 2pm aimed at ages 7-10
Session 2 at 3.15pm aimed at ages 11+
Workshops and the installation are free but booking is essential.
TICKETS ARE FREE but must be pre-booked here
OPEN HOUSE FESTIVAL FREE GUIDED TOURS | WEDNESDAY 21 SEPTEMBER, 11am - 4pm
Take a walk within our walls and learn about the 220 year history, ongoing building conservation, what events you can come enjoy, and our plans for our future as we continue our work for culture, community, heritage and social justice
Get your FREE OPEN HOUSE FESTIVAL TICKET here
We also offer free entrance at the door for self-guided tour of the chapel
Founded in 1799 by a group of ‘radical activist’ nonconformists, Union Chapel’s founding principal was to be a ‘Friend for All’. In 1991 Union Chapel Project was formed as a secular charity, to preserve the building and open up the space to as many people as possible to enjoy it and develop the building for cultural and community use. The next year, the space became a stage for live performance, beginning our journey to being one of the most beloved London music venues where you could see international stars, emerging talent, and experience the stunning acoustics fill with the sounds of all genres.
Love from last year’s open days:
“So much more than you’d expect from a typical chapel”
“It really captures the essence of how special the chapel is and the wonderful hugely varied work”
“It really breathed life into the idea of Union Chapel to the children”
VOLUNTEER CALL OUT
Want to be a part of our team? We're looking for passionate people to welcome visitors on our bustling Open Days, to champion what we do, and gather feedback crucial to the future of Union Chapel.
Available time slots are:
Sunday 18 September: 1-4pm
Wednesday 21st September: 10:30am - 1pm & 12:45pm-4pm
Email [email protected] with the time slots you're available for before noon on Monday 12 September and to receive further information
