Closure of the Chapel

The Methodist chapel in Cheriton Fitzpaine, a village in Devon, has been a significant part of the local community for over 160 years. Due to a dwindling and aging congregation, the chapel held its final service on April 7, 2024, and subsequently closed for worship.

The closure of the chapel presents the chance to repurpose the historic building into a community heritage centre, ensuring its preservation and continued relevance. Here are several steps and considerations for this transformation:

An Opportunity to Plan for the Future

1. Community Engagement: Involve local residents in discussions about the chapel’s future use to ensure the project meets the community’s needs and garners widespread support.

2. Feasibility Study: Conduct a study to assess the structural condition of the building, necessary renovations, and potential uses as a heritage centre.

3. Funding and Grants: Explore funding opportunities from various grant providers, to finance the conversion.

4. Heritage Exhibits: Develop exhibits that showcase the history of Methodism in the village, the chapel’s role in the community, and local historical artifacts.

5. Sustainability Plan: To repurpose an existing building and make it as energy efficient as possible.

A successful example of such a transformation is the West Bay Methodist Church in Dorset, which closed in 2007 and was repurposed into the West Bay Discovery Centre in 2018. This centre now serves as a vibrant hub for local heritage and community activities.

By following a similar approach, the former Methodist chapel in Cheriton Fitzpaine can be revitalized as a community heritage centre, preserving its historical significance and providing a valuable resource for the village.

A Precedent

The Blog

This is where we will record all the latest developments in the progress of the project. 

News of Booster Funding

Note - This is not the very latest total. Click here for an up-to-date figure. 

Recently the Cheriton Fitzpaine Community Shop was awarded a grant of £6,600 from the Community Shares Booster Fund to cover consultancy fees and the accreditation of the Community Share Offer. The committee is working hard to achieve their target of £145,000 to purchase the redundant Methodist Chapel and schoolroom next door to their life-limited cabin. The panel thought the application was strong and applauded the progress that had been made to date.They were impressed by the evident strength of community engagement and support.

This is borne out by the fact that many are prepared to give more than practical support to ensure that their thriving community shop will survive, and since November, an astounding £73,304 has been pledged in the form of shares and donations.

After three well-attended public meetings setting out detailed plans for the purchase and renovation of the Methodist buildings, a good percentage of the village population responded to the stark reality that the cabin currently housing the shop is coming to the end of its lease and will disappear in December 2027, with nowhere else to go.

18.02.25

‘A Village without a shop is just a place to live.’

We are registered under the Co- operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, with not-for-profit status, our purpose being to serve the community.

A Great Start!

We've made a great start! Now we need to keep up the momentum. The committee are striving to gain funding from a range of sources, but we urge everyone to support the project in every way they can going forward so we can secure the shop as an asset for our village for many years to come.

01.02.25