Yorkshire Dales Church Conversion Seeks Manager

A manager is being sought for a Grade II listed church in the Yorkshire Dales that is undergoing conversion into a hostel. This church, St Michael and All Angels Church in Hudswell, situated near Richmond, is being transformed into a six-bedroom accommodation facility with views of the Swale valley. According to Hudswell Community Charity, the establishment is anticipated to welcome visitors next spring. The charity is currently looking to appoint a manager who will collaborate with trustees on the concluding preparations and subsequently operate the hostel. Susan Ferns-Williams, who chairs the organization, stated that reaching this stage has required “several years and a lot of hard work”. She elaborated, “We wanted to preserve our historic parish church for future generations to enjoy and we felt the best way of doing this was to find a new sustainable use that would benefit the village and visitors to the Yorkshire Dales.” The community group acquired the church from the Church Commissioners in 2023. Since then, it has secured nearly £900,000 in funding for the building’s conversion. Named St Michael’s Lodge, the hostel will feature six en-suite bedrooms, a lounge and dining area, a self-catering kitchen, and a secure bike store. Martin Booth, Secretary of the board of trustees, indicated that they are seeking an “exceptional person” capable of helping to “turn our vision for St Michael’s Lodge into reality”. He further commented, “This is an exciting opportunity to work with us to create a unique place to stay in the Yorkshire Dales that will offer comfortable accommodation in a beautifully restored Victorian building.” He specified that the ideal candidate should possess experience in hospitality and management, along with the ability to oversee both the facility and a small team of employees. Hudswell Community Charity operates and possesses ownership of several village venues, such as the pub, shop, and hall, in addition to allotments and an orchard.