‘Historic’ Shropshire church goes to auction with approval for eight flats
A Grade II-listed former church in Whitchurch, Shropshire, is set to go under the hammer at Bond Wolfe’s September auction, with full planning permission already in place for conversion into eight apartments.
The former United Reform Church, on Dodington, will carry a guide price of £85,000-plus at the livestreamed auction on Thursday 10 September.
The detached building was originally constructed in 1813 as a Congregational Chapel before later serving as a United Reformed Church, and has links to composer Edward German, whose father served as the church’s organist and choirmaster for more than 30 years in the late 19th century.
James Rossiter, associate director at Bond Wolfe, said: “This historic Grade II-listed building presents a rare and exciting development opportunity in one of Shropshire’s oldest and most charming market towns.
“Full planning permission was granted in May 2024 for the sympathetic conversion of the property into eight residential apartments, with a mix of one and two bedroom, plus dedicated parking spaces.
“The development includes the former church, adjoining church hall and Sunday School, and this is predominantly level, with the former graveyard gently sloping away at the rear.
“The scheme extends to just under 5,200 sq ft of accommodation and has been thoughtfully designed to retain many of the building’s original architectural features, preserving its historic character while creating attractive contemporary residences.”
The former church traces its origins back to 1797, when the congregation split from the Presbyterian Church. According to its Historic England listing, worshippers first converted a small currier’s shop on the site into a chapel in 1798, before enlarging and fitting it out in 1813. The building was further extended in 1815 and 1846, with its centenary marked in 1913.
The freehold property sits around 600 metres from Whitchurch town centre, with connections to the wider Shropshire, Cheshire and Welsh borders. It is one of 186 lots in Bond Wolfe’s next auction, which starts at 8.30am on 10 September, with bidding available online, by phone or by proxy.
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