The land was bought in 1661 as a burial ground for London Quakers.
In 1855 The Burial Act was passed by Parliament which shut all graveyards in central London for reasons of public health.
Instead bodies were taken outside of London, including Jordans Quaker Burial Ground which is still in use today.
There was much debate on what future use should be made of the site.
In 1874 a Gospel Tent seating 300 was set up, and prayer meetings were held nightly for two months. A year later an ‘Iron Room’ seating 400 was erected.
Young Quakers J.B. Braithwaite, Jnr and J. Allan Baker then started an Adult School in a room rented in Banner Street.
In 1880 the proceeds of the compulsory purchase of a strip of land to widen Coleman (now Roscoe) Street financed the construction of ‘Bunhill Memorial Buildings’.
Publications
We have several short publications that describe our history more fully. These are currently out of print and due for revision…
In the meantime they are available here as downloads in pdf format. Please note that any apparent current references may be out of date.
This is the map of the walk ‘Quakers in the City’ which begins at the gravesite of George Fox, you can download the guide below.
Quakers in the City
A walk around the City of London beginning at the gravesite of George Fox
Commemorative leaflet issued to accompany our mug