Newington Green Meeting House

Newington Green Unitarian Chapel is believed to be London’s oldest Nonconformist place of worship. The site is composed of the Georgian Grade II listed Chapel and a later Victorian Schoolhouse to the rear. Today, it is run by New Unity, as a place to gather, discuss and share.

Richard Griffiths Architects were appointed as lead consultant and conservation architects to undertake the restoration and repair of the two buildings thanks to funding by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The designs were sympathetic to the historical context of the site and adapted to the needs of the community.

The major project transformed the buildings so that they can now be used efficiently, creating spaces for multiple uses, including exhibition areas, a new basement containing a meeting room and WCs, a lift and ramps to ensure the buildings are fully accessible, new AV installation and services throughout to accommodate various functions such as concerts, conferences and performances. The proposals included the full external repair and restoration of the Church and the Schoolhouse building, respecting the traditional methods of repair in order to address notable issues of water ingress, disrepair and deterioration of the exterior.

Today, the building is once again a centre for the local community and the building is energy efficient and able to be used for future generations. The whole building is now fully accessible, and the rich history of non-conformity in Newington Green, and the story of the connection with Mary Wollstonecraft and the rights of women, can now be told.