The Gravel Pit Chapel was established in 1715–1716 in
Hackney, then a village north-east of London, for a Presbyterian congregation seceding from that of
John Barker, after the death of
Matthew Henry. It took its name from the gravel pit near the
bowling green in
Mare Street. and by 2013 was a branch of
Aquascutum. The New Gravel Pit Chapel was described in 1908 as being at the west end of Retreat Place, a row of
almshouses. It was rebuilt in a
Gothic style in 1857, and remained in use until it was damaged during
the Blitz in 1940. The burial ground survives and includes historical references to some of the people buried in the grounds.
Original Gravel Pit congregation The Mare Lane congregation went back to
William Bates (1668). • 1716
Daniel Mayo and George Smith or Smyth • 1723–1747? George Smith alone • To 1792 Thomas Morgan • 1794–1805
Thomas Belsham It included
Charles Hennell,
David Ricardo and
Daniel Whittle Harvey. • 1858–1869
Robert Brook Aspland Old Gravel Pit Chapel (Congregationalist) In 1810 a
congregationalist group, who had seceded from the Ram's Chapel in Homerton after the death of
John Eyre, They had gathered from 1804 at
Homerton College. The last service in the Old Gravel Pit Chapel was held in 1871. The congregation moved to the new Round Chapel, on the Clapton Park Estate, in
Upper Clapton. From 1874 there was an Old Gravel Pit mission in the building. ==Notes==