A couple who bought a chapel on a whim at an auction are transforming it into a holiday home in the Peak District. Chelsea Shoesmith, 35, and her partner Mark purchased Allgreave Chapel in Wincle, Macclesfield, for £86,000 last July after spotting an article on Facebook.
How the auction unfolded
Chelsea, a photographer who lives in Macclesfield, first saw the chapel after reading an article about it online. She drove past, found the door open, and decided to attend the auction that same day. "I was too excited. I bid against myself up at one point because I just kept putting my hand up. I was going to go up to £100,000 but I won it for £86,000 in the end," she said.
The chapel was advertised as having no services, which Chelsea believes put some people off, but it did have electricity and water. "When I won I felt like my face was just glowing, it was definitely one of the most surreal moments of my life. It all just felt very meant to be," she added.
Renovation plans for the chapel
The chapel, built in 1871, stopped being a place of worship in 2002 when the congregation had only three people. Since getting the keys on July 24, the couple have been renovating it. "There weren't many original features because it stopped being a chapel in 2002, and somebody bought it and kept it for all that time, but they'd ripped a lot out," Chelsea said.
The couple have added a mezzanine floor with a king-size bed, and the eaves will include a built-in single bed. The layout will feature a kitchen with an island and an Everhot oven, a living area with a log burner and underfloor heating, and a bathroom. They are using local suppliers where possible and keeping original features such as the wooden flooring and pendant lights.
Future as a holiday let
Once completed, the chapel will be rented out as a holiday home, as it only has planning permission for that use. It will be aimed at small families and couples and will be dog friendly. "When people stay at the chapel, I want them to really feel that they are in the Peak District," Chelsea said.
Builders are working on the project to save time, but the couple are also doing some work themselves. Chelsea hopes the renovation will be ready between Christmas and spring. The couple's progress can be followed on Instagram at @allgreavechapel.
