The Old Eden Chapel on the corner of Fitzroy Street and Burleigh Street, 1980s, by Roy Hammans (the-golden-fleece.co.uk)

Eden Baptist Chapel, Cambridge

History of Eden Chapel Cambridge

The Eden chapel was built on the corner of Burleigh Street and Fitzroy Street.

A detailed history of the church can be found here:

https://eden-cambridge.org/about-us/a-history-of-eden

1899 12 23

While making excavations at the junction of City Road and Fitzroy Street, some workmen in the employ of the Cambridge Electric Lighting Company came upon some gruesome remains. They dug up some coffins. It is supposed the site is that of the old burial ground of Eden Street Chapel. The remains were removed to Mill Road Cemetery, where they were interred. For some reason efforts are being made to prevent the real facts becoming known. The employees of the Electric Light Company jealously guard what they deem an important secret and refuse to give any details.

Credit: Mike Petty, Fitzroy Street Cambridge Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

1928 01 06

A gale swept through Cambridge & telephone communication to all places was lost, with the exception of direct traffic to London. Three large windows at the front of Eden Baptist Church, Fitzroy Street, were blown in and the wreckage smashed three front seats in the gallery. The flag staff at Great St Mary’s church snapped under the pressure of the high wind. Cyclists who attempted to battle against the elements were almost stationary on their machines. In Hills Road an errand boy was blown from his bike and sustained a cut knee. In the flooded areas the wind whipped the water into whirling maelstroms.

Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hills Road Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

1928 01 16
Sir – there are a great many dangerous corners in Cambridge. Burleigh Street corner is dangerous on account of the Eden Baptist Chapel standing in the midst of this busy thoroughfare. I suppose this chapel has been in existence from time immemorial, but as times are now and as traffic grows bigger and bigger, there certainly ought to be something done to remove this obstacle from this blind corner – E. Claydon

Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge Burleigh Street Scrapbook 1897 to 1990, ref. 1928 01 16.

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1929 12 10
Sir – I was in the vicinity of Fitzroy Street early one morning and could see a driver with a one-horse van coming from Burleigh Street. He turned right on the corner round Eden Chapel on the wrong side and left down James Street, heedless of any danger. On seeing a police constable I asked whether he had noticed the careless driving around these blind corners. He replied: “This man, being alone driving one horse and van is under no rules or regulations and if he wishes is at liberty to wobble all over the road”. I suggest members of Eden Chapel should be approached over this unsightly spot, with its projecting iron fence; it is a serious block to public traffic. All such dangerous corners should be abolished – E. Claydon, Parsonage Street, Cambridge.

Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge Burleigh Street Scrapbook 1897 to 1990, ref. 1929 12 10.

When the Grafton Centre was built in the 1980s the Eden chapel moved to a new home at the town end of Fitzroy Street and the building was integrated into the fabric of the Grafton Centre.

It opened as a bar/restaurant called the Trolley Stop in 1983, later renamed Footlights until becoming a branch of Gail’s Bakery following the Grafton Centre renovations in 2017.