Work restarts on historic chapel restoration

Toilets, flooring and updated electrics are being installed during the project's second phase

Work is under way to transform a historic chapel into a community hub and arts space following a three-year delay.

The 18th Century Whitfield Tabernacle in Kingswood, near Bristol, is being restored after a fire ripped through the heritage building in 2000.

Work to revamp the Grade-I listed site was delayed in 2022 due to issues with transferring land ownership documents.

The building is considered significant in the early history of Nonconformism, with leaders at the Whitfield Tabernacle Trust claiming it is "probably the oldest surviving building of the early Methodist movement".

Kim Scudamore, from the trust, said that the restoration's second phase will include the installation of toilets, flooring, updated electrics and the potential reinstatement of a three-sided balcony.

The building was previously expected to reopen by the end of 2023,

"We actually had a roof on in 2022 and I think we rather optimistically thought it would only be a matter of six months or so before we were back in with contractors to complete the project.

"But it's taken a lot longer than we hoped," Mr Scudamore said.

The building had been derelict since a fire in 2000

The trust is also looking to secure additional funding for a further phase, which Mr Scudamore said would make the building more accessible.

"We would build a new entrance with a lift up to the up to the first floor. At the moment, we won't have lift access to the upper floors, which is very disappointing.

"We're hoping to have some rake seating, because we're hoping it's going to be a performance venue as well as a community building," he added.

Trust leaders hope the building will be finished by the end of 2026.