Rev. Margaret Kirk shared this article with us, written for a workshop on Change at the General Assembly Meetings in March 2026.

“The mission to preserve Flowergate Old Chapel has a strong basis in our story of dissent and social justice. Particularly the story of one man, one Minister who over 200 years ago crusaded against extreme poverty and unbridled privilege in the town. He became notorious for doing it! He was imprisoned many times and pilloried ceaselessly in the press. A few years ago, he was acknowledged by Whitby Civic Society, as a brave defender of people’s rights: these are words on the blue plaque proudly displayed on the wall outside our chapel.

It is this crusading spirit of defiance against social injustice that has inspired a group of us to work over a number of years towards saving our building for the community, to honour that spirit and prevent our chapel from becoming yet another holiday home to enrich the pockets of property developers. We are a part of Whitby`s history and the mission for social justice continues in this small coastal town just as keenly as it did then.

Throughout we have been able to draw upon the support of Simon Bland, our Ministry and Congregational support Officer. Two years ago, we drew up a Licence contract with Flash Company Arts, a Community Interest Company. They have a licence to use the chapel for small arts activities. They support our Unitarian ethos and have been coming regularly to our monthly services.
We gained planning permission to remove pews, re-flag the floor and remove part of the screen between the entrance area and the main worship area to satisfy fire regulations. An expensive undertaking that absorbed most of our funds. We now have an open space to allow for more active arts activities which user groups are delighted with and we feel we have achieved a great deal. Above all, we want our building to be used by the community to enrich the lives of local people.

But, unfortunately, the four of us have had to face up to the fact that we cannot take the chapel into the future. We approached the Deceleration Team to help us through our conflicting feelings. They helped us to accept that our Trusteeship had run its course. So, it came as a great relief to be informed that the Innovation Fund had provided a grant to steer us through the process and a person to give us advice and encouragement.

Christopher Daniel arrived in Whitby in January 2026, together with Simon Bland. They visited the chapel and were enthusiastic about its new space, the potential for more community activity and the evident commitment of our two community workers – our licensees. Their commitment to our Unitarian values and the social justice issues that are part of our heritage, have helped to reassure us that there is a future.

Together with Simon, Chris is helping to steer us through the process of dissolving our charity, working closely with the district treasurer as our assets are transferred to the district temporarily. The district will hold the assets until a CIC (Community Interest Company) is set up to manage them permanently.

Although, there are no longer monthly services, the two community workers and our lay leader, Claire Lee have agreed to hold services four times a year to celebrate solstices and equinoxes. The first one was held on the 21st of December and attracted 35 people. Most of them were local.”

Rev. Margaret Kirk – chair of Flowergate Old Chapel CIO

See here for Louise Reeve’s article about the 21 June 2026 Summer Solstice ‘A Celebration of Trees’ gathering: Whitby Summer Solstice 2026