HEAVENLY HOMES
Congregations may be down, but we’ve not lost faith in the joys of rectory life
THE decline in churchgoers over the second half of the 20th century has resulted in scores of former ecclesias-tical properties being sold off as private homes.
Good news for buyers — because erstwhile vicarages, rectories, as well as chapels and churches, are often spacious, well-appointed and full of character.
And the list of famous rectory-dwelling inhab-itants reads like a Who’s Who of English litera-ture — eight poets laureates, including Dryden, Tennyson and Day-Lewis, were raised in them.
Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters were brought up in parsonages or rectories as the daughters of clergymen. Charles Dickens, John Betjeman, Evelyn Waugh and Rupert Brooke lived in former rectories. As did Charles Darwin, the grandfather of evolutionary thinking. Mark Crampton, of Middleton Advisors ( middletonadvisors.com), says: ‘The Old Rectory is probably one of the most sought after property addresses in a village, as it usually signifies one of the best houses.’ The range in shape, size and, of course, quality of the buildings can vary, and even subjectively ugly Sixties houses can come with the title.
So it is not a given that a rectory or vicarage will be a period gem in several acres of garden with a coach house, pool and court. However, The Old Rectory in Berrynarbor, Devon, does fit this blueprint. The seven-bedroom house has a large detached, two-bedroom coach house, an outdoor pool, outbuild-ings and about three acres. It also has fabulous views across the valley. Owner Mike Amos-Yeo, says: ‘ We’ve thoroughly enjoyed living in The Old Rectory these past 13 years. The house is a real family home with large, high-ceiling rooms and beautiful land. It has real character.’ The village of Berrynarbor neighbours Combe Martin and lies about two miles east of Ilfracombe on Devon’s striking north coast. The price is £1,450,000 with Turner- Carr (01271 866421, turner-carr.co.uk).
Another period beauty is The Old Vicarage in Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales. Located at the end of a tree-lined lane, the five-bedroom, Grade II-listed house was commissioned by Rev Edmund Turbeville Williams and designed by Henry Woodyer in 1862 in a neo-Gothic style.
Today, the Gothic arch windows and striking turret remain. Internally, there’s ample living space and generous cellars. The gardens are mostly lawned, with a terrace next to the conservatory and overlooking the church. It’s on the market for £850,000 with Fine & Country (01179 461946, fineandcountry.com).
Those with grand designs on modernising a rectory or vicarage should be wary. ‘Planning issues can vary significantly,’ says Chris Ayers, of agents Turner-Carr. ‘It is rare that plans get approved in which structural altera-tions are to be made to the historic fabric of a building.’
Church conversions come with another set of challenges. Helen Saunders, of agents Chewton Rose in Gerrards Cross, Bucks, says: ‘It can be difficult to gain residential development rights, especially if there is a graveyard present.
‘There remains one within the grounds of St John’s Church, Uxbridge, where we are selling a 1999 conversion of an original 1837 building. The vendor has to allow family members of any deceased buried on his land access for visiting. In the past 16 years, he has only had one visitor.’
The four-bedroom former Anglican church is priced at £1.5 million with Chewton Rose ( 01753 886177, chewtonrose.co.uk).
Old church buildings can also retain a role in the com-munity. James Wyatt, of Bar-ton Wyatt, says: ‘There are plenty of people who like the idea of converting churches, but are surprised when they can’t resell them. The fact is most make a hash of it.
‘We had a better solution for a disused chapel. We left it as it was, albeit with a new floor, a badminton net and a bas-ketball hoop. It is used for parties and fashion shows.’
A two-bedroom apartment, with a third bedroom/study, at 12a The Grange, Virginia Park, a gated estate built around the former Holloway Sanatorium, a magnificent Grade I- listed Gothic building in Virginia Water, is priced at £ 935,000 with Barton Wyatt (01344 843000, bartonwyatt.co.uk).