Heavenly conversion
Old church transformed into a five-bed luxury home, writes Paul Drury
THE walls of the old kirk must have trembled – not only because of the extensive conversion work that turned it into a home but also because the new owner had elected to include a private bar.
And perhaps, also, due to new owner Thomas Melville’s house guest. Mr Melville explained: ‘The former glamour model Katie Price was doing a gig in Glasgow.
‘I got a phone call to say that she had been thrown out of her hotel room at four in the morning. Well, she didn’t have anywhere else to stay…’
The encounter can perhaps be explained by the fact that Mr Melville is a friend of Calum Best, the celebrity son of football legend George Best.
Quite what Miss Price made of what was once Old St Andrew’s Church in the city’s Baillieston area is anyone’s guess.
But it is certain she would have been impressed by the sheer scale and quality of the residential accommodation on offer.
Mr Melville spent several years taking the 1833 derelict church and transforming it into a fivebedroom luxury sanctuary. What would have been the ‘body’ of the kirk is now a stunning central atrium, with kitchen and living accommodation off it.
It is a super-size take on the desire to have a single, dedicated area for family living.
The upper area has been cleverly transformed into matching walkways, which lead to the bedrooms.
The use of natural light in the roof space creates a vibrant atmosphere below, helped by the use of white on most of the wall and floor surfaces.
Part of the space has been given over to a home office and there is also a gym.
This could easily be converted to another bedroom if six were really needed.
Mr Melville had to contend with curious locals during the extended refurbishment period.
He said: ‘We were harassed so much by the door bell going every five minutes. It got so frequent, we took the door off and just let people wander in. You have to respect the fact this is a building which means so much to so many people.
‘One old girl came in and told me she got married in what is now our living room. I just let her wander around.’
Visitors can also be expected in the ‘grounds’ of the old church, which is a Commonwealth War Graves cemetery. Seven service personnel from both world wars are buried there.
Mr Melville said: ‘It will be a wrench to leave it but the place is just too big for me and my sixyear-old son.
‘You do get used to the size of the place. New homes I have been to view just seem like bedsits compared to this.’
Doubtless, a new owner will also appreciate it. They might even think they have died and gone to heaven.
Offers over £375,000 to Avril Stoller of Countrywide. Tel: 0141 773 4455 or email avril.stoller@countrywidenorth.co.uk.