Between 11 am and 1 pm 3rd May 2026, join Abney Park Trust and the Tower Theatre to celebrate 186 years since the laying of the foundation stone for the Chapel in Abney Park Cemetery, in May 1840.

As part of the celebration, Abney Park Trust will open the Chapel and members of the Tower Theatre will bring some of the amazing residents to life. Once you have visited the Chapel to enjoy the beautiful restoration, stroll around  the site and you might encounter Margaret Graham and hear about her dare devil balloon flights; or perhaps Issac Watts might tell you about his life with Lady Abney; James Braidwood might be there to explain how his dedication and ingenuity led to him becoming the father of the modern fire service-  who knows who’ll turn up from the past to tell their story?  Pick up a map at the Chapel and see who you can find. Oh yes, and of course there may be some birthday cake on a first come first served basis.

Looking forward to Sunday 7 June the Chapel will be open as usual, between 11am and 1pm. At 12 noon, Abney Park Trust will be giving a short talk about Eric Walrond, Harlem Renaissance writer, journalist, and author of Tropic Death, published in New York in 1926 (and still in print and as an e-book today).

Because Abney can get quite muddy in we would request no dogs in the chapel.
Toilets and baby changing facilities available.

Access Information:
Service dogs on leads are welcome.
Accompanying carers welcome.
There is ramp access at Church Street entrance, there is level access at the Stoke Newington High Street entrance. 
The ground floor of the Chapel is fully accessible and there are accessible toilets available onsite.

This event is free - donations to support the work of Abney Park Trust are welcome.