Information about the venue
If you’re looking for somewhere a little different and quirky to exchange your wedding vows, and you live in or within easy travelling distance of London, then take a look at The Asylum chapel, a beautiful de consecrated church in Peckham. Firstly, a brief history lesson: The impressive building is Grade II listed, built in 1826 by The Licensed Victuallers Benevolent Institution for the use of residents of nearby Caroline Gardens.
The residents comprised retired workers from the alcohol trade. The Georgian chapel was bombed during World War II, the interior gutted and its roof destroyed. Fortunately, the beautiful stained glass windows survived along with the memorial plaques. In the 1960s, the roof was replaced. The building remained an empty shell for many years and virtually unused. However, in 2010, it became the home for an artist-led organisation and became known as The Asylum.
An historic venue in a modern era
Today, the partially restored character chapel, with its crumbling walls and peeling paintwork, is an amazing space offering stunning backgrounds for your romantic wedding photographs. 120 guests can be accommodated here against a backdrop of flickering candles, artistic lighting and colourful flowers. After the marriage ceremony in front of the former altar, the happy couple can relocate to the front of the building for outdoor drinks and canapés.
If you wish, you can call upon the services of one of three specially recommended Wedding Coordinators, or you can use your own — subject to approval. There are modern toilet facilities on site. The chapel is a ceremony-only venue, so your wedding breakfast and full evening reception would need to take place elsewhere.
Before WWII, the building was the heart and soul of the local community. Now, seventy-odd years later, new life has been breathed into it, and the location is used for film and photographic shoots, exhibitions and of course, weddings. The venue is even pet friendly. One thing is certain, your guests will be talking about your Special Day at The Asylum for years to come … and admiring the lovely set of my memorable photographs, of course!
Previous weddings at this venue
Location
Address: Caroline Gardens, Asylum Rd, London SE15 2SQ
Phone:020 7635 8033
If you’d like to enquire about my availability for the Asylum Chapel please get in touch here.