West Norfolk church finds new home in old chapel

A church in West Norfolk has taken on a disused Methodist chapel, which was set to be converted into residential properties, giving the church a new home and the building new life.

Last month, Hope Evangelical Church completed the purchase of the old Methodist Chapel on Lynn Road, Snettisham. 

The building, constructed in 1908, had permission from the council to be turned into two new residential properties, having been empty since 2023. Whilst the plans raised some objection from locals, the members of Hope Evangelical church were stirred to prayerfully consider buying the property, even though they had a membership of just 23.
 
Hope Evangelical Church elder, Richard Pennington said: “The church first asked the members to pledge from their own resources and the sum of £100k was raised.
 
“In view of the sacrificial giving of the members and also based on the vision the church has to reach the surrounding community with the gospel of Jesus Christ, two Christian trusts agreed to match fund to enable us to make an offer which after what seemed like interminable delays finally led to completion.”
 
The church, which is affiliated to the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC), intends to launch a Christianity Explored course in the daytime and meet each Sunday at the new site.
 
There will be a service of celebration on Saturday November 28 at 2.30pm. Richard Underwood, a long-standing friend of the church, the former general secretary of FIEC and pastor in various churches in East Anglia, will be speaking.
 
For more information, please visit the church’s website: hopeevangelical.org
 
Or email elders either, ian@hopeevangelical.org or richardpennington23@gmail.com
 

Hope Evangelical Church
The Old Methodist Chapel, Lynn Rd, Snettisham, King's Lynn PE31 7PX
 

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