Stoke Newington venue under threat as bosses scramble to ‘save’ historic space

The Old Church is a cornerstone of Stoke Newington’s grassroots music scene. Photograph: Deirdre Malynn

A fundraising appeal has been launched in a bid to save a beloved cultural venue in need of vital repairs.

The Old Church in Stoke Newington is London’s only surviving Elizabethan church. Restored in the 1950s after being bombed during the Blitz, the Grade II*-listed building has in recent years become a destination for grassroots music and community events.

But the future of the former parish church in its current form is under threat. A drain needs urgent repair, without which the venue will not be able to continue hosting events.

Deirdre Malynn, Director at The Old Church, said: “The drain issue is not cosmetic – it’s fundamental to whether we can safely keep the building open.

“If we cannot raise the funds quickly, we will have no choice but to suspend activities”.

Over the years the church has hosted both up-and-coming artists and big names in the industry, from Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth to MUNA’s Katie Gavin.

Schools and colleges, as well as independent performers, are able to rehearse in the space during the day, while community groups use the venue as a place to meet. Malynn described the venue as “A home to spread your wings”.

The team at The Old Church is hoping to raise £15,000 to fund the repairs and are calling on residents, fans and music enthusiasts to contribute whatever they can.

The money raised will cover work needed to stabilise the drainage system and prevent future damage to the historic structure.

Malynn told the Citizen the venue doesn’t receive any funding or sponsorship, so major repair work would have a devastating impact on business.

If the required amount is not raised, not only will The Old Church’s cultural programme be put on hold, but the fate of the historic building will also be put at risk.

“We have great bookings for the coming year and it would be devastating to have to bump events”, Malynn continued.

“This is a critical moment. With the community’s support, we can fix the problem, protect the building, and keep The Old Church alive for emerging artists and grassroots community events”.

For more information or to donate, visit The Old Church’s website here.