Shares in village’s chapel up for grabs

Bid to save future of building for use by local community

The centre is a community group and we want to open it up for social space

Martin Wheeler

SHARE options are to be made available to help purchase a former Staffordshire Moorlands chapel to enable it to be used as a community facility.

Kingsley Holt chapel closed for weekly religious services in 2019, although the meeting room remained in use.

Residents were stunned last June when a notice was pinned to the chapel door indicating that the Methodist Moorlands Circuit – Management Committee had decided that the building and land were to be sold.

In August, families were given six months to raise funds to try and buy it after the building was listed as an Asset Community Value by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.

That period ends on April 13, at which point the owners may sell it to whomever and at whatever price they choose. Now a community group is looking to put forward a share option to raise funding.

If successful the building would be used as a community centre for all organisations plus the possibility of a shop and cafe.

Speaking to members of Kingsley Parish Council, chairman of the Kingsley Holt Centre, Martin Wheeler, said: “The Kingsley Holt Centre is a community group and we want to open up the chapel for social space.

“The chapel had a wide variety of weekly uses prior to covid. We would also look at a shop and cafe to help bring in financial help.

“There is strong support from residents to open up the premises. The Asset Community Value made by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, ends in April and the chapel could be sold for the best price.

“We hope to have a share offer available at the end of the month.

“If the chapel is sold to the highest bidder it could affect access to the recreation ground and also to the village defibrillator. The car park is used by about seven cars, these would have to park on the road.

“We are aiming for a £200,000 budget. The difficulty is the time limit to raise the money.

“We held a rally outside the premises last month which was attended by lots of people. We would love to buy the premises.

“We are looking at funding along with the share options and are also hoping for support in the project by Kingsley Parish Council.”

A printed document presented to councillors, said: “Our vision for the Kingsley Holt Centre is to provide an accessible place to meet and socialise in a venue that is welcoming and inclusive to all ages, offering a range of activities and events that will address loneliness and isolation, especially for the elderly, disabled and young families and improve social inclusion in the community. Our objectives are to be a not-for-profit enterprise owned by the community for the benefit of the community; to address social isolation through the provision of a dedicated meeting place; to preserve and maintain the former chapel building as part of the village’s building heritage; to establish a village hub; to operate the Society in an ethical, responsible and sustainable way; to engage and grow our community volunteers to provide supportive services to the community and to co-operate with third part bodies, businesses and projects in the community to mutually enhance an easily accessible hub for activities and services.”

Chairman of the parish council, Councillor Ken Unwin, said: “This is important to the parish. It is a very difficult path to raise that amount of money in a short time limit. You are giving it your best shot and we wish you well.”