Church goes up for sale

Jul 5 2012 by Lawrence Poole, Buckinghamshire Examiner

kings church

MANY a proud homeowner worships their own des res, but how about owning a property in which church-goers have worshipped en masse for hundreds of years?

Kings Church in Chapel Yard, High Street, Old Amersham, is on the market and in search of a new owner.

Formerly called Amersham Old Town Baptist Chapel, the Grade II listed building was built in 1784 with the south wing added in 1842 and is on the market for a cool £750,000.

The 6,000 sq ft property is for sale as Kings Church is due to relocate into a new building on Raans Road in September 2013.

Any prospective owner faces a major conversion project with lobby areas, chapel grounds and the auditorium itself to consider.

Paul Thomas, who is a pastor at the church, said: “It has been a fantastic facility for us and we’ll be sad to leave it – unfortunately we’ve outgrown the building.

“We’ve got community members who have been coming to the church for 70 years and their ancestors through its various guises for hundreds of years, so there’s a lot of history there.

“I personally hope it continues to be used as a community facility as that’s what it was set up for.”

He added: “We’re very excited to be moving to our new home and we hope to coincide the sale with our move.”

The building is open to many uses aside from residential and it is hoped there will be a lot of interest.

London Real’s Andrew Brown said: “This is a quite delightful piece of Amersham’s historic fabric and we are looking for people with vision to understand its considerable potential. Subject to a sensitive scheme of conversion and conservation, it could make a fabulous Grand Designs’ [Channel 4 property show] house.

“But of course, the building can continue to be used as a non-residential institution, such as medical centre, creche, gallery and museum.”

Savills’ Nick Pounce said: “This provides a rare and unique opportunity to purchase one of the Old Town’s landmark buildings – we expect to generate a great deal of interest.”

n What would you like to see the building used as? Write to bucksnews@trinitysouth.co.uk.