TWO decades after it closed as a place of worship, the magnificent Grade II* listed Methodist chapel at Westgate in Weardale is to be restored and run by Trades4Care (T4C) to create opportunities for young adults interested in pursuing careers in the trades.
Their plan is to restore both the chapel and the adjoining schoolhouse, working with young adults, journeymen and specialist local craftspeople, offering placements and training with a particular focus on heritage skills. Westgate Chapel is one of the most significant historic buildings in the village and retains an exceptionally complete Victorian interior, making it an ideal place for learning traditional conservation skills.
Once the main restoration is completed, the intention is for the flat above the schoolroom to provide guest accommodation for two or three people working on T4C projects, and the schoolroom to be used for training and hosting. The chapel itself will be restored to its original state and promoted as a magical space for small choirs and consorts from the UK and abroad to rehearse, study and make music while enjoying the beautiful surroundings and staying in local accommodation.
Deborah Jenkins of Trades4Care said: “The ethos of T4C is to get young adults involved in every aspect of what we do, and we expect the running of the chapel and the schoolhouse to be no different. There will be opportunities for training, apprenticeships and work if we can make this a success, and we hope that there will gradually be a community of young adults who will eventually take over the running of T4C from us.”
The Historic Chapels Trust, which has cared for a portfolio of historically important nonconformist chapels across England and is securing long-term futures for them through its disposals programme, has gifted the chapel to T4C, who took ownership at the beginning of April, together with a grant to cover the costs of the transfer.
The Trust has cared for Westgate Chapel since 2009 and has invested substantially in its conservation, including major repairs to the roof and urgent works to stabilise and protect the historic building. Support from Historic England and the National Heritage Memorial Fund has been instrumental in enabling these works and preserving the chapel while a new owner was identified. The chapel remains on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register and securing a sustainable new future for the building has been a longstanding objective.
Charlie Wright, one of the three directors of Trades4Care, said: “This is a huge opportunity for us to offer local young adults the chance to be involved in saving a very important building whilst learning skills they will be able to use for the rest of their lives. We are so grateful to the Historic Chapels Trust, and to all the people who have helped us over the last year to make our dream a possibility. We feel that we are embarking on a very exciting adventure and we have many friends in County Durham from our existing work who will come and be part of it.”
T4C is working with Cultura Trust (formerly the North of England Civic Trust) to bring together supporters and experts who can help the project become a reality. Discussions are underway with Durham County Council and Historic England to explore sources of funding for the restoration, and a partnership has been established with New College Durham, which will involve students and tutors in the project. Cultura Trust is working with the college to create a new training programme for apprentices in heritage skills leading to qualifications for a cohort of local students working on the chapel and other heritage buildings in the region.
Chris Smith, Chairman of the Historic Chapels Trust, said: “Westgate Methodist Chapel is an exceptionally important historic building and one of the most complete surviving Victorian Primitive Methodist chapels in the country. We are delighted that Trades4Care, supported by Cultura Trust, has taken ownership and developed such an imaginative and sustainable vision for its future.
“The Historic Chapels Trust has worked hard to safeguard this remarkable chapel over many years, carrying out essential repairs and securing its future. What makes this transfer particularly exciting is that the building will not only be preserved, but will also help train a new generation of craftspeople, support local communities and create opportunities for young people. We believe Westgate has found custodians who understand both its heritage significance and its potential to make a real difference for the future.”
As Westgate worshippers know, the chapel is constructed in sandstone and has Welsh slate roofs. It is in two storeys and has five bays. To the east, and slightly set back, is the former schoolroom, which also has two storeys. Internally, the pulpit is at the west end. The body of the chapel and the gallery contain rows of pitch pine pews. The organ is situated above the pulpit at the west end. It was built in about 1920 by Nelson & Co. of Durham, and has two manuals. In front of the pulpit is a dais surrounded by communion rails. On each side of this are curved doors leading to vestries with a store room between them. The ceiling contains coving with large panels; it is decorated with stucco leaves, cornices and roundels around the ventilators.
This is excellent news for the village and has been warmly welcomed and appreciated.
