Go-ahead for £780,000 project, Teesdale Mercury

METHODISTS are to begin a major fundraising drive after planners approved a £780,000 scheme to revamp a well-known 19th century church.

Durham County Council has backed the proposal to bring the Methodist Church, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, into the 21st century.

Church-goers want to provide a building for Methodist services, as well as for the rest of the community.

The plans involve creating the first sports hall in upper Teesdale. The large hall will be incorporated in the chapel’s first floor that will double as a sports hall for activities including five-a-side football, cricket training and basketball.

Most of the funding will come through grants and the sale of assets, including the hall at the rear of the church, which will be demolished and replaced with sheltered housing for the elderly.

But Methodists need to raise another £100,000 themselves. They have already collected £20,000 and will shortly announce fundraising activities and events.

Among them will be a scheme where people can ‘buy a slate’ to help fund roof repairs.

Ian Tallentire, one of the church’s property group members, said: “We’re really pleased that the council has approved our plans.

“We have tried to tell people about how they can use the building and there’s been a lot of support and interest.

“We hope the new building we be well used. We’ve got a long way to go but we will get there.”

The former Wesleyan Chapel, which stands on Horsemarket, was built in 1870 but has become expensive to run. As well as needing a new roof, the insulation and windows need attention.

Under the plans, the main chapel building would be remodelled. It would have a bigger entrance, kitchen storeroom, toilets, worship area and meeting room. 

Most of the hard wooden pews will be replaced with comfortable chairs and the audiovisual system upgraded.

The first floor would include the main activity hall, kitchen and gallery serving as a café facility. Glazed windows would provide views of Horsemarket.

The outside of the building would mostly remain the same, although repairs would be carried out on the stonework.

The church currently operates a range of activities, such as a Fairtrade shop, coffee mornings and youth clubs. The chapel hopes to extend those activities.

However, the council’s planning officers rejected the proposal to have one main entrance into the revamped church.

Instead, there will be two main doors, which will both have disabled access.

“We were a little disappointed with that part of the decision as the idea was to just have one main way in,” Mr Tallentire said.

But Mr Tallentire said he was pleased that accommodation for elderly people would be built on the site of the hall, to the rear of the church.

“It’s definitely what the village needs,” he added.

Mr Tallentire said he hoped funds could be raised within two years and that work would start soon afterwards.