Freeland residents gathered on Friday to celebrate a major milestone in the village’s long-running campaign to secure its historic chapel for community use.
Following completion of the purchase earlier in the day, villagers enjoyed a glass of sparkling wine and a piece of cake, and had a look around the chapel that will become Freeland’s future community hub.
Freeland Community Hub purchased the Grade II-listed former Methodist chapel for just over £165,000, plus fees. The acquisition was funded entirely through fundraising, with local residents and supporters contributing around £187,000 to secure the building outright.
The success means the society, which now has over 160 shareholding members in and around the village, owns the chapel free of borrowing and – thanks to extra income secured in recent weeks – has already set aside £78,000 towards refurbishment works.
However, there is still significant work ahead, with a further £132,000 needed to complete the restoration and conversion project by next spring.
