Martin, a friend of the Hospital Chapel, gave us a fantastic tour of the chapel. He told us the history of the oldest building in Redbridge (1145 AD). We learnt all about it's origins as a hospice for aged and infirm men. We were very interested to learn that it was set up by Barking Abbey and a lot of it's history was linked to Barking and Dagenham. The chapel is a survivor and managed to escape Henry VII's Dissolution of the Monasteries. It was also a leper hospice and then went on to enjoy expansion in the Victorian period.
Martin pointed out features of interest in the church for example, the stained glass and the beautiful altar as well as the newly discovered Norman window.
After the tour, we enjoyed tea, coffee and biscuits at the back of the Chapel and greatly admired the handmade cards that are for sale.
Everyone agreed that it was a real treasure in Ilford and vowed to spread the word so that other people could enjoy it's charms.
