Hackney Church Celebrates Three Years of Community and Creativity Post-Restoration

20 June 2024 - Press release

Announces Partnership With Ticketmaster 

 

Since reopening its doors in 2021 after an impressive restoration, Hackney Church has become a beacon of hope and hub for the arts in East London.

Hackney Church marks a significant milestone this May, celebrating three years since its grand reopening in 2021 after a transformative renovation. The launch week of shows in collaboration with Communion One saw the likes of James Bay, Lianne La Havas and The Staves take to the stage in the summer of 2021. Since reopening, the church has not only become a thriving place of worship, but also a vibrant centre for community engagement and cultural events.

In 2018, SAINT embarked on a remarkable transformation of  Hackney Church as part of a multi-million-pound restoration project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This collaborative effort, led by architectural designer and ‘father of modern architectural minimalism’ John Pawson CBE (Abbey of Our Lady of Nov ý Dv ůr/Design Museum), acclaimed visual artist Es Devlin CBE RDI and awarding-winning architectural practice Thomas Ford & Partners revitalised the church, improving access and transforming it into a versatile space for events and creative expression.

Following its reopening, the 1800-capacity venue, equipped with state-of-the-art d&b audio system, has hosted performances by major artists such as Ed Sheeran, Sampha, Biffy Clyro and  Joy Crookes, solidifying its reputation as a premier music venue. As an affiliate of the Music Venue Trust and Independent Venue Week, the church is committed to supporting local talent while attracting world-renowned creators to the impressive Grade II* listed building. 

Thando Zulu, Experiences Director, Hackney Church, shares "The last three years have flown by. We've gone from pioneering social distancing measures to become one of the first venues in the country to reopen safely, to hosting some of the world's most unique shows. From Shabaka’s final saxophone performance and Sampha’s first show in five years, to partnering with Choose Love to raise funds for those in war-torn nations with artists like Joy Crookes and Dermot Kennedy—these events underscore the transcendent nature of our venue, a perfect home for so many memorable shows over the years."

Hackney Church has also recently aligned with Ticketmaster as their exclusive ticketing partner and will utilise their discoverability platform, Ticketmaster Local, to boost the venue’s marketing. This new collaboration ensures a smooth ticketing experience for fans, while extending the reach of Hackney Church's events to a wider audience.

Tim Goom, Client Development Director, Music at Ticketmaster, says: "Hackney Church is an iconic venue, a cornerstone of East London's culture and community. We look forward to bringing our ticketing expertise to elevate the fan experience and keep pushing the venue's mission of creativity and connection.”

Thando notes “Despite the ongoing economic challenges of running a Venue of our size, we are looking ahead with confidence that we will be able continue to deliver high quality events and positively impact the local community in Hackney. We are proud to partner with Ticketmaster and their mission to support local venues. It is an exciting step on our continued journey of being a ‘Cathedral of Creativity’”.

Beyond its role as a cultural hub, as part of SAINT, Hackney Church is supporting a vibrant and thriving church community, with a mission to bring hope to the people of East London, and serving the local community through a range of outreach programmes. The church's social outreach charity Lighthouse provides practical and holistic support to people in need in the local community. All profits from venue hire contribute directly to these essential programs, ensuring that Hackney Church continues to make a positive impact on the lives of East London residents.