A stunning 19th century chapel converted into an unbelievably glamorous home
This glorious chapel conversion in the beautiful Yorkshire city of Harrogate is a testament to the vision of the architect and the workmen who carried out the job.


From the outside, this 1896 Wesleyan Methodist Chapel looks every inch the late-Victorian house of worship that it once was.
Inside, however, it's been completely transformed into a modern, efficient six-bedroom home in Harrogate – and it is now on the market for £1.5 million.
At the heart of the property is a central drawing room with a 50ft ceiling that is light, airy and beautiful – and currently adorned with all manner of painting and sculpture from the present owner's collection.
It was that collection which inspired this project in the first place, with the seller wanting to find somewhere large enough to display his treasures. Now, however, he is moving on to start a new project.
The refurbishment of the Chapel has gone far beyond appearances, however, since the home boasts an ‘envirovent’ heat recovery system and underfloor heating heated by a biomass boiler.
There are also any number of modern conveniences, from the electric gates and CCTV to a modern kitchen with an induction hob – and where original church pews have been used in the building of the kitchen storage units.
The six bedrooms have been put in using mezzanine flooring, and all are are en-suite; the bathrooms they feature are a particularly fascinating mix of old and new, some of which feature beautifully-polished copper baths overlooked by stained glass windows.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
That sort of playful touch is replicated in the living space as well: on either side of the main space downstairs are two rooms currently used as a gentleman's club and a ladies' boudoir; there is also a dining room overlooking the main drawing room area, off which is a library with floor-to-ceiling shelving.
There is not much in terms of outdoor space: this comes across as a house created with minimum outdoor maintenance in mind, as the space in front of the wonderful Italianate portico is a mixture of paving, artificial grass and potted trees.
The relative lack of outdoor living space is unlikely to be much if an issue for the buyer, however, since this is very much a town dwelling, located in the heart of Harrogate, just a couple of hundred yards from the restaurants and other amenities on King's Road.
The Chapel is on the market for £1.5 million via Strutt & Parker – you can see more details and pictures here.
North Yorkshire Property Guide: Where to buy a country house or cottage
Expert advice abouts schools, train stations and house prices in North Yorkshire's towns and villages
Credit: Blenkin & Co
A handsome Georgian property now on the market after full restoration
Metham Hall in East Yorkshire has medieval origins and a colourful history.
Country Life is unlike any other magazine: the only glossy weekly on the newsstand and the only magazine that has been guest-edited by HRH The King not once, but twice. It is a celebration of modern rural life and all its diverse joys and pleasures — that was first published in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year. Our eclectic mixture of witty and informative content — from the most up-to-date property news and commentary and a coveted glimpse inside some of the UK's best houses and gardens, to gardening, the arts and interior design, written by experts in their field — still cannot be found in print or online, anywhere else.
-
A Grecian masterpiece that might be one of the nation's finest homes comes up for sale in Kent
Grade I-listed Holwood House sits in 40 acres of private parkland just 15 miles from central London. It is spectacular.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
What the cluck? Waitrose announces ‘trailblazing’ pledge to help improve chicken welfare standards
Waitrose has signed up to the Better Chicken Commitment, but does the scheme leave Britain open to inferior imports?
By Jane Wheatley Published
-
A Grecian masterpiece that might be one of the nation's finest homes comes up for sale in Kent
Grade I-listed Holwood House sits in 40 acres of private parkland just 15 miles from central London. It is spectacular.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Some of the finest landscapes in the North of England with a 12-bedroom home attached
Upper House in Derbyshire shows why the Kinder landscape was worth fighting for.
By James Fisher Published
-
Could Gruber's Antiques from Paddington 2 be your new Notting Hill home?
It was the home of Mr Gruber and his antiques in the film, but in the real world, Alice's Antiques could be yours.
By James Fisher Published
-
What should 1.5 million new homes look like?
The King's recent visit to Nansledan with the Prime Minister gives us a clue as to Labour's plans, but what are the benefits of traditional architecture? And can they solve a housing crisis?
By Lucy Denton Published
-
Welcome to the modern party barn, where disco balls are 'non-negotiable'
A party barn is the ultimate good-time utopia, devoid of the toil of a home gym or the practicalities of a home office. Modern efforts are a world away from the draughty, hay-bales-and-a-hi-fi set-up of yesteryear.
By Madeleine Silver Published
-
Five beautiful homes, from a barn conversion to an island treasure, as seen in Country Life
Our pick of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life in recent days include a wonderful thatched home in Devon and a charming red-brick house with gardens that run down to the water's edge.
By Toby Keel Published
-
The finest interiors in Edinburgh? A seven-bedroom townhouse furnished by Robert Kime comes to market
Situated on one of the New Town's grandest terraces, this four-storey property is a collector's dream.
By James Fisher Published
-
A Grade II*-listed country manor with one of the most beautiful drawing rooms in England
If Old Manor Farm in Somerset is good enough for Pevsner, it's good enough for you.
By Penny Churchill Published