Villagers delighted as deal struck to buy chapel

The Methodist Circuit agreed to sell the chapel to the Downderry community

Campaigners are celebrating after striking a deal to save a chapel in a coastal village from being sold to the highest bidder.

Villagers said they were pleased the Methodist Church had a "change of heart" and agreed to sell Downderry Chapel, in Cornwall, to the community.

The South East Cornwall Methodist Circuit handed notices to quit to the many clubs that use the chapel and all groups had to vacate by 12 August.

A spokesperson for the Methodist Circuit said: "Where possible we prefer to sell to community groups and this is a very fitting next step in our collaboration with the Downderry community."

A campaign was launched earlier this year when The Zone Health and Wellbeing Hub were told they had to leave.

Adrian Kemp said the community was "immensely pleased" the chapel would remain in community hands

Adrian Kemp, chairman of The Zone Steering Group, said "We're really pleased.

"It's very exciting that there's been a change of heart from the Methodists about selling the building to the local community.

"It feels that all of our efforts are really worthwhile now."

Mr Kemp said the community was "immensely pleased" and grateful.

"We've had lots of messages of congratulations for moving forward," he said.

"Groups that we've talked to about moving back into the building are making plans about how that can happen and when."

Downderry Methodist Chapel had been a home to the community for 15 years

Mark Gibbons, Cornwall councillor for West Looe and Deviock, said having a "fully funded package" was vital.

"That's come through a combination of the Shared Prosperity Fund from the UK government and through the Community Infrastructure Levy from Cornwall Council, and that's helped basically fund a community building," he said.

"When you look to what the value to the community is and the number of groups that basically benefit from this space I think it's money well invested."