Built on part of the site of the East India Company’s Hospital, the foundation of Poplar Chapel was laid out in 1650 and completed in 1654. Poplar Chapel was possibly the first place of worship in Poplar. The Great Storm of 1703 caused serious damage to the Chapel and by 1709 the Chapel was in such poor condition that urgent repairs were needed. The Church was almost completely rebuilt in 1776.

In 1866, eight years after the transfer of East India Company’s property to the crown, the Church became the new parish of St Matthias. The bell-turret was altered and the external walls covered by Kentish Ragstone and some internal changes were undertaken.

The Church received only minor damage during the Blitz of the Second World War. However, in 1958 the Church was found to be under attack from death watch beetle. This was treated and the Church was saved.

In the 1970s the decision was taken to close St Matthias’ Church and in October 1976, after three hundred and twenty two years of worship it finally closed its doors.

While it remained empty the Church was vandalized. Thankfully, in 1990 English Heritage and the London Dockland Development Corporation agreed on a major restoration programme to save the Church. When this was completed the St Matthias Conservation Trust was set up to maintain the Church and to encourage community groups to use the Church building for their activities.

On the Church ceiling can be seen the coat of arms of the East India Company. The seven wooden pillars supporting the roof  possibly came from the company’s East Indiamen and there are a number of marble memorials to those who served the East India Company.