A glimpse into the past: Spitalfields Venue
Spitalfields Venue is our June venue of the month and what better opportunity to look back at its incredible almost 300-year history! So, grab a hot drink and settle in for this trip through time with us.
THE NAVE
Established as part of the ‘Commission for Building Fifty New Churches’, Christ Church Spitalfields was built by the famous, Nicholas Hawksmoor between 1714 and 1729.
By the middle of the 20th century, the building was unkempt and at risk of demolition. The Friends of Christ Church and the Spitalfields Festival, made up of the congregation and local community groups, came together to fundraise for its renovation and in 2004 the Nave was reopened.
Now beautifully restored as a landmark of East London, thanks to donations from a number of generous benefactors and trusts it continues to be home to an active church congregation and has opened its doors as a public building to the thousands who visit each year.
It’s hard not to be in awe of the beautiful Baroque Organ within the Nave. Originally inaugurated in 1735 and became derelict, along with the building around the 1960s. The organ was restored and completed for use by 2014; people travel from all over the world to come and see this stunning masterpiece.
THE CRYPT HALL
Emerging from the Nave renovations was a special project to redevelop the Crypt.
Reopened in 2015, one can now easily see Hawksmoor’s original design and the new oak renovations have created a bright and airy cafe and events space.
The Crypt has had many unique uses over the years:
- A bomb shelter to the local residents during the Second World War.
- A homeless shelter in the 80s-90s; founding the ‘Spitalfields Crypt Trust’ charity which is still running in a purpose-built building in Shoreditch.
- Excavated in 1984-86; nearly 1,000 human remains were discovered which were taken to the Natural History Museum to form one of the worlds largest collections of recorded human remains.
HANBURY HALL
Surprisingly, this Huguenot Chapel is older than Christ Church itself. By the 1960s, Christ Church was derelict and services began to take place in the Church Hall (now known as Hanbury Hall).
Built in 1719 as a French Huguenot Church, Hanbury Hall has many historic uses over the years:
- Charles Dickens gave public readings
- 1888 Matchstick Girls Strike meeting was held there, which helped to establish the British Trade Unions (Take a look at the plaque outside Hanbury Hall next time you visit!)
Along with the Crypt at Christ Church, Hanbury Hall was restored and reopened in 2015.
With such an incredible history, one may find it tough not to feel awe-struck and inspired when visiting Spitalfields Venue. Be it through lunch at the Cafe in the Crypt, a coffee while you work at Hanbury Hall, or during your event in the Nave – keep an eye out for the signs of this stunning venues history.