Broad Street Independent Chapel, Reading

Broad Street Independent Chapel is a nonconformist chapel in Reading now used as a bookshop. The original interior features a square layout with galleries surrounding the walls and a domed ceiling with ornamental cornice work, while a modern glass conservatory connects the street-facing building to the main chapel space.

The chapel was built in 1707 as a nonconformist meeting place. It underwent major renovation in 1892 when a new street-facing building was added, featuring an arched entrance beneath a tower topped with an octagonal turret.

This Grade II listed religious building reflects the presence of nonconformist worship traditions in Reading during the 18th and 19th centuries.

The space is now part of a large bookshop and accessible during its regular business hours. The blend of original chapel architecture and contemporary retail use makes it easy for visitors to experience both the historic structure and the everyday life of a modern reading space.

The chapel holds baptism and marriage records from 1720 to 1837, including the 1761 baptism of brewery founder William Blackall Simonds. These genealogical documents remain preserved and show how central the chapel was to the community of that era.