About this episode

The episode explores the impact of nonconformity on Britain's past and future, focusing on the legacy of dissent and historic chapels.

The burning of Birmingham in July 1791 wasn't just a riot, it was the moment dissent and nonconformity became forces that would shape Britain forever. Sarah Dowd is joined by Chris Smith, Chair of the Historic Chapels Trust, and Steve Pilcher, longtime champion of historic chapels across England. Together they unravel what nonconformity really meant: centuries of struggle for religious freedom, communities building chapels for themselves, and the surprising legacy these "dangerous outsiders" handed to modern British society. Expect radical architecture, Quaker leases stretching five millennia, and a case for why these now-empty chapels matter more than ever. Dedicated to Sarah Dowd's Aunt Sandra, in honour of 60 years of Songs of Praise. Highlights: 00:00 Birmingham burns & the birth of dissent: Joseph Priestley’s story 00:45 Chapels as spaces for democracy, debate, & imagining new worlds 01:40 Songs of Praise and the journey of nonconformity 02:20 The hard question: what becomes of empty chapels? 03:15 Chris Smith, the Historic Chapels Trust and the battle for funding 06:10 Steve Pilcher on life in conservation and a 13-year “secondment” 09:16 What is nonconformity…

People in this episode

Host: Sarah Dowd

Guests: Chris Smith, Steve Pilcher

Topics covered

• nonconformity
• British history
• religious freedom
• historic chapels
• community building
• architecture

Keywords

• nonconformity
• Birmingham
• historic chapels
• religious freedom
• architecture
• community
• dissent

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Historic Chapels Trust

Books & works: Songs of Praise

Places: Britain, Birmingham

More episodes of HistoryFFS

• S2 Episode 10: Audience to Action: The Rise of Immersive Theatre · June 29, 2026 · 1h 5m
• S2 Episode 09: Non-Conformity: Changing Britain’s Past and Heritage’s Future Part 2 · June 22, 2026 · 1h 8m

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