A church in Cropwell Bishop village could be turned into homes under new plans submitted to Rushcliffe Borough Council.
Cropwell Bishop’s Methodist Chapel, on Nottingham Road, was last used as a place of worship in late 2022.
Proposals are for the conversion of the chapel building itself into a three-bedroom house, while the associated schoolhouse, in the chapel grounds, will become its own two-bedroom property.
Two extensions, on the rear and side of the chapel, will be removed as they “detract from the building’s historic form”.
The site was sold off at an auction in 2024 for £300,000 after closing its doors 18 months prior.
Documents say that the presence of other churches in Cropwell Bishop and the surrounding villages led to a decline in attendance.
The chapel, which is Grade II listed, will “retain the spiritual volume and craftsmanship of the original structure while introducing modern functional living areas”.
Key features such as the timber pews, stained glass window, and altar rail will be “retained and incorporated sensitively”.
The ground floor will be split into a living room, a study and one bedroom on a “partial first floor”.
Upstairs, the master bedroom and third bedroom will be accessed across a hallway with a shared bathroom on the back edge.
The old schoolhouse building, closest to the main road, was once three separate cottages with upper and lower floors before it became an educational facility.
It already features a kitchen and a toilet, and the layout of the ground floor will largely be retained, with the only major change being an extra wall added to create an office space at the back of the living area.
A first floor will be reinstated to feature two bedrooms, which will both be decked out with skylight windows and have ensuites.
The chapel will have two parking spaces and the schoolhouse will have one, in the current grassed area between both buildings.
A statement says: “The proposed conversion of the former Methodist Chapel and Old School House represents a sensitive and sustainable reuse of two underutilised listed buildings within Cropwell Bishop.
“The design respects the architectural and historic significance of the site while introducing modest, well-considered alterations that enable comfortable modern living.
“The project will preserve and enhance the heritage value of the property, secure its long-term future, and contribute positively to the character of the village.”
