Shropshire Couple Bids to Acquire Ancestral Chapel and Graveyard

A Shropshire couple is expressing their desire for a family chapel, currently up for auction by the Methodist Church, to remain under community ownership. Charles Green’s family played a role in founding Maesbrook Primitive Chapel in 1899, as well as its predecessor chapel in 1844. The graveyard contains the burial sites of thirty-one of his relatives, including his parents and all four grandparents. Sally Whipple Green, Mr. Green’s wife, stated that they are submitting a bid for the chapel, with the intention of transforming it into a community hub. The graveyard features numerous memorial stones inscribed with the surnames Green, Davies, and Ward, representing five generations of Mr. Green’s family. A significant number of these individuals were crucial in the establishment, financial support, and continued operation of the Methodist chapel in Maesbrook, a location situated near Llanymynech on the Welsh border. Ms. Whipple Green reported that only four individuals were attending services at the chapel when the Shropshire & Marches Methodist Circuit decided to close the building last year. The property is scheduled for auction on November 29, alongside the Asterley Methodist Chapel and The Old Hope Church in Oswestry. Mr. Green noted that his family, along with other community members, contributed financially to the construction of the current chapel in 1899 and the earlier place of worship in 1844. He also mentioned that they charged “a pittance” for the land plot. He believes there is a compelling case for the building’s return to community ownership. The couple intends to place a bid for the chapel, which carries an asking price ranging from £30,000 to £40,000, though it is anticipated to fetch a considerably higher sum. Ms. Whipple Green stated, “Part of my plan is to still allow it to be used by the community, and to keep the fabric of the chapel to as near as possible to how it always was.” According to Halls Auctioneers, the Methodist Circuit will maintain a Right of Access for activities related to burials. The Green family has already secured their own burial plot. The purchaser of the chapel will bear the responsibility for the graveyard’s maintenance and will be obligated to enclose it with a fence. The couple is seeking community assistance to achieve their aspiration of converting the property into a community hub. They propose potential uses such as a cafe, a craft centre, a museum, and possibly “champing,” a practice where individuals pay to lodge in churches and chapels.