05/11/2025
STATEMENT REGARDING CHAPEL SALE
Following a Meeting of the Managing Trustees (Church Council) on Tuesday 4th November 2025, I am pleased to be able to make the following statement in consultation with our Agent, our prospective Buyer and our Leadership Team:
++ The Chapel Trustees have informed their Agent, Mallard, that they have accepted an offer for the purchase of the Chapel premises. (Those whose offers were un-successful have all been individually informed.)
++ The Chapel Trustees are not in a position to be able to share the identity of the successful buyer and have been asked to respect confidentiality. (The sale is of course subject to contract and due process).
++ The buyer plans to use the property for the benefit of the local Community. (This statement should not be interpreted as suggesting either hospitality or retail premises!)
++ The Trustees are pleased that the space will not be lost to private development.
Beyond that I cannot provide more detail.
As the Legal / Conveyancing process begins we do not anticipate completion this side of the New Year. Therefore we can confidently plan for our celebrations of the approaching Advent and Christmas season in the Chapel as we prepare leave our dearly-loved home.
Update... we are grateful to the individuals, groups, businessess ,organisations who have given of their time and resources to prepare bids for the Chapel; including among them our Community Council, whose bid was widely published, and others which remained confidential. We do appreciate the disappointment when there can only be one buyer, and the sense of frustration when the outcome can't be shared immediately for reasons of confidentiality and due diligence. But we look forward to sharing more when we, and our buyer, are able to do so.
We move ahead with confidence to continue to develop our plans for the Hall site. The congregation continues to have a wide and active presence within the community. We are relinquishing the use of our dearly loved Chapel premises, but our work and mission continues - to serve our community; reflect God's love for all; to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord.
Thank you for all your support and your thoughts and prayers.
REMEMBRANCE 2025
I look forward to joining with our community for Remembrance on the Green for 10:45 am on Saturday (8th November) and leading our Commemorations of Remembrance Sunday in Chapel at 10:30 am on Sunday (9th), and led by Rev Andrew Pearce at 4 pm.
Everyone is welcome - we would love to see you,
With grace and in peace,
(Rev.) Andy Walker.