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Couple's rescue mission to give former Methodist chapel a new lease of life
Andrew and Nell Campbell (top centre) are bringing the former Methodist chapel in Chatteris back to life. - Credit: Daniel Mason/Andrew Campbell
A couple who bought a former Methodist chapel in desperate need of repair are on their way to bringing it back to life.
Andrew and Nell Campbell, previously of Sedge Fen, only saw two pictures online of the building on New Road, Chatteris before deciding to buy it last year.
“It was an unknown thing as we didn’t know what we would find in there,” Andrew said.
Andrew and Nell bought the building, believed to have been originally built over 200 years ago, from a German model maker who worked in the film industry.
They found issues such as tainted walls, overgrown land and a ceiling in need of an uplift.
Renovation costs are thought to be between £100,000 - £120,000, but due to his fascination with the building, Andrew could not have asked for a better project to work on.
“It’s a challenge, but an enjoyable one,” he said.
Andrew and Nell Campbell are bringing the former Methodist chapel in Chatteris back to life. - Credit: Daniel Mason
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“It was the building I went for and 99.9 per cent of the time, I thoroughly enjoy being here.”
After starting work on the building last spring, Andrew and Nell were living in a mobile caravan next door before moving in earlier this month.
Andrew and Nell Campbell are bringing the former Methodist chapel in Chatteris back to life. - Credit: Daniel Mason
Andrew and Nell Campbell are bringing the former Methodist chapel in Chatteris back to life having been in a state of disrepair. - Credit: Daniel Mason
The former Methodist chapel in Chatteris has been used as a Sunday school as well as a youth club, and is thought to have originally been built over 200 years ago. - Credit: Unique Property Bulletin
Having bought the former chapel for £270,000, Andrew has received help from plumbers, electricians and his brother, a conservation builder specialising in historic buildings.
Andrew also stopped working as a roofer in September to devote more time to the project.
“It has been a seven-day-a-week project,” said Andrew.
Flooring before renovations inside the former Methodist chapel. - Credit: Andrew Campbell
Flooring inside the former Methodist chapel after renovations. - Credit: Andrew Campbell
“You cannot come into this building and spend three or four evenings working on it, otherwise you will never finish.”
Andrew has received much interest on a Facebook discussion forum from the building, which has been used as a Sunday school and youth club during its history.
A bedroom, bathroom and flooring are yet to be finished, but when work is complete, the couple are planning to hold an open day for the public.
Walls inside the former Methodist chapel before renovations began. - Credit: Andrew Campbell
Andrew and Nell Campbell are bringing the former Methodist chapel in Chatteris back to life. - Credit: Daniel Mason
Andrew and Nell Campbell found overgrown land which is being dealt with outside the former Methodist chapel. - Credit: Andrew Campbell
The former Methodist chapel in Chatteris has been used as a Sunday school as well as a youth club, and is thought to have originally been built over 200 years ago. - Credit: Unique Property Bulletin
“I don’t think it’s the end of an era (for public use), but the building is taking on a new life,” Andrew added.
“I see it as the building being rescued and that it will not fall apart. I want people to know it has been brought back to life."
The renovations at the building, which will turn into Andrew and Nell’s new home, are due to be finished by November 2022.
A part of the ceiling inside the former Methodist chapel to be renovated. - Credit: Daniel Mason
Part of the ceiling inside the former Methodist chapel after renovation. - Credit: Daniel Mason
Andrew and Nell Campbell are bringing the former Methodist chapel in Chatteris back to life. - Credit: Daniel Mason
Andrew and Nell Campbell are bringing the former Methodist chapel in Chatteris back to life. - Credit: Daniel Mason
Andrew and Nell Campbell are bringing the former Methodist chapel in Chatteris back to life. - Credit: Daniel Mason
A view from above - inside the former Methodist chapel in Chatteris. - Credit: Andrew Campbell
