page_title: Union Chapel, Brighton
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Union Chapel, Brighton / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Wall-mounted monument to preacher Henry Varley, on the south side of the former Union Chapel, Brighton, England. It was installed during the period (early in the 20th century) when the chapel was used by the Glynn Vivian Miners' Mission. The building is now a pub called the "Font &amp; Firkin".
context_page_description: The Union Chapel, also known as the Union Street Chapel, Elim Free Church, Four Square Gospel Tabernacle or Elim Tabernacle of the Four Square Gospel, is a former chapel in the centre of Brighton, a constituent part of the city of Brighton and Hove, England. After three centuries of religious use by various congregations, the chapel—which had been Brighton's first Nonconformist place of worship—passed into secular use in 1988 when it was converted into a pub. It was redesigned in 1825, at the height of Brighton's Georgian building boom, by at least one of the members of the Wilds–Busby architectural partnership, Brighton's pre-eminent designers and builders of the era, but may retain some 17th-century parts. It has been listed at Grade II in view of its architectural importance.
context_section_description: Although evidence of Neolithic settlement has been found in the area now occupied by the city, Brighton started to develop as a fishing village in the 12th century.  Fishermen's houses were clustered together below the cliffs on the English Channel coast, a parish church (St Nicholas' Church) was built on higher ground to the northwest, and development gradually spread to the land immediately above the cliffs.  By the 17th century, four streets named after the cardinal directions formed the boundaries of the village.
  Until that time, St Nicholas' Church was the only place of worship in Brighton.  Nationally, only the Church of England was recognised as legitimate.  Various Acts of Parliament proscribed Roman Catholic and Nonconformist worship: in particular, the Conventicle Act 1664 prevented groups of non-Anglican Christians meeting for worship.  By about 1660, however, a Nonconformist community had developed sufficiently to be able to found a school.  A religious census carried out in 1676 found 260 Nonconformists, 8% of the village's population of 3,340.  As restrictions on their religious practices eased, a chapel was built; this was initially used by Presbyterians.  It was built in the heart of the old village on a street which was later named Union Street in reference to the chapel.  Sources disagree on the date of its founding and construction.  Many identify 1683, others prefer 1698, and 1688 has also been put forward as the date of construction or the date the land was sold to the Presbyterian community.  A foundation stone still exists in the south wall, but its date has been identified as either 1683 or 1688.
  In its early years, the chapel was used exclusively by Presbyterians; but its first permanent minister—Reverend John Duke, who was in charge between 1698 and 1745—allowed Independent Christian ministers to hold services there as well.  The name "Union Chapel" was adopted to reflect the coming together of the different denominations.  The name "Union Street Chapel" was also used occasionally after the street took that name.
  In around 1800, a house was constructed next to the chapel for the incumbent minister to live in, and burials began to be made in the former yard area behind the building.  About ten years later, the chapel was extended; the east wall, built of cobbled stones and flints with red-brick dressings in a style found frequently in Sussex, may date from that redevelopment, although other sources state it may have been part of the original 17th-century structure.
  Brighton grew rapidly, from its original fishing village status to a fashionable town and seaside resort, from the second half of the 18th century, helped by royal patronage, local doctor Richard Russell's advocacy of sea-bathing and seawater-drinking as a cure for various ailments, and improved transport connections to London and other places.  By the early 19th century, demand for new buildings—especially in the fashionable Regency style—was very high, and a group of three builders and architects, who worked together and separately at different times, became the most significant contributors to Brighton's building stock of the period.  Amon Wilds and his son Amon Henry Wilds, together with Charles Busby, were responsible for developments such as Kemp Town, the Brunswick estate, Regency Square, the Royal Albion Hotel and various churches.  The Union Chapel was completely redesigned in 1825 in a Classical style with Greek Revival and Egyptian Revival elements, and at least one member of the group was responsible; but there is disagreement over their respective contributions.  Most sources identify Amon Wilds as being solely responsible; others name Charles Busby on his own, in collaboration with Amon Henry Wilds, or even together with Amon Wilds senior.  Research by English Heritage in 1992 suggested that ascribing the work to Amon Wilds senior was a mistake; that the design was created by Charles Busby in 1825 when he was still in partnership with Amon Henry Wilds; that both men signed it; and that after the partnership was split up l
caption: Memorial tablet to Henry Varley, a preacher during the Glynn Vivian Miners' Mission era
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