A heavenly home in a converted brick and flint chapel, in a rural beauty spot that is nonetheless somewhat commutable to London is up for sale.
Now an awe-inspiring three-bedroom house, Woodlands Chapel was built in 1889 and retains its stained-glass windows, bell tower and spectacular wooden vaulted ceilings.
Set in the pretty hamlet of Woodlands in the South Downs National Park the property also boasts charming views of the Meon Valley countryside and a pretty, rambling garden.
It is close to Alresford, home of the famous Watercress Line steam railway which runs to the Hampshire town of Alton in Jane Austen country, where there is also fast mainline rail services to Waterloo.
The converted Victorian chapel is currently on the market for £1.395 million through Carter Jonas.
While such a property is certainly special, church conversion homes are not unique. In fact they appear to be on the rise as congregation attendance declines.
Nathan Khider, founder of his eponymous property consultancy based in Islington, is seeing an increasing number of churches for sale naming high-maintenance costs and dwindling religious participation as the main drivers of the trend.
“Unfortunately, many churches are struggling to adapt to modern financial realities, so we’re seeing more of them being listed,” Khider explains.
“It’s become very expensive to maintain these buildings, especially when less of the population is practising Christianity and attending services.
“Churches tend to have great architecture and are praised for their coveted locations nestled in the heart of communities.”
He adds: “Preserving their historic features while modernising their interiors make for perfect family homes – a real-estate dream in the current market.”
There are plenty of listings to worship, it transpires. Situated 10 minutes from four stations and even less to Highbury Fields, the St. Saviour’s Church in Islington is now for sale and accepting offers in excess of £1.85m.
On the other side of London in Tooting, a church most recently-used as a ballroom on the Springfield Village development is listed for £1m; while in Walthamstow, the Spiritualist Church is also on the market for £1m with space for a congregation of over 250 people (read: mega parties).
If you’ve got an even bigger budget, then you may just find your religion at Westminster Road in Hanwell comprising a 4,552sq-ft ground floor comprising a main hall, ancillary hall, offices, kitchen and WC with a separate mezzanine and basement.
In the 2021 Coming Home report, the Church of England encourages churches to be imaginative in their use of their properties to help tackle the shortage of quality in homes in cities such as London.
Khider agrees. “The UK is facing a housing crisis, so the real-estate industry is tapping into this and taking advantage of these interesting properties.
“It’s a shame to see churches up for sale, but they offer great potential, especially in London where we are always in need of new homes for the growing population.”
The downside? “They’re not easy projects and renovations can be costly,” he warns, “but they’re selling rapidly and for great prices.”
Thinking of converting your own church? As with all properties, costs vary greatly, Khider estimates between £50,00 to £100,000 for construction alone, potentially more depending on the complexity of the project.
But you’ll be rewarded with plenty of space, characterful features and a real conversation-starter of a home.
Talk about altar-native living.
