A FORMER South Wales church stuffed with oodles of Gothic charm and style dating back to the start of the last century could make a perfect family home.
The 112-year-old former English Congregational Church, which has planning permission for conversion to a three-bedroom house, is being sold by Paul Fosh Auctions.
The property, on Iscennen Road, in Ammanford, is listed with a guide price of £39,000, could now return to Welsh ownership.
Current owner and vendor Englishman Alan Kipping, says it may now be the chance for a Welsh person to take up the challenge to convert the building.
Alan says he ‘fell in love’ with the church, built in 1913 by a Welshman Henry Herbert, in the Welsh style and has a sêt fawr (great pew) for the English from Pembrokeshire.
Alan said: “My mother was Welsh and coming to visit her sister in London before the war, went to a party and fell in love with a cockney, Alan’s dad.
“We have relations and friends all over south Wales. One day when I passed this church, I couldn’t resist it and just had to buy it.”
Alan, who has a passion for old buildings, obtained planning permission to turn the church into a three-bedroom home.
Alan continued: “We did manage to save the church from rack and ruin. We’ve cleared out the gutters and drains and all the broken glass from inside.
We’ve had a bat survey and we have no resident bats, and no bats were harmed in the clearing up process.”
Unfortunately, Alan says he has put the church up for sale as he hasn’t got the funds to complete the renovation.
Auctioneer Sean Roper said: “This wonderful former church offers someone with vision and imagination a marvellous opportunity to create a dream home in this historic building.
“Built in a gothic style in 1913, just ahead of the Great War, it now has planning for conversion to residential.
“Located in a sought-after position it’s close to the local park and is just a short distance from the bustling town centre with its wealth of shops and amenities and transport links.
“The property has a spacious front garden area and a yard to the rear overlooking the local park and bowling green.
“This stunning building, which could make a beautiful home, would be of interest to builders, investors and homeowners.
“Proposed plans for the building could see it transformed into a three-bedroom house with living area utility and shower on the ground floor and bedrooms above with spacious gardens to the front and rear served by a patio space.”
The former vestry/school room, next to the church is also being sold as a separate lot at Paul Fosh Auctions. With planning permission for conversion to a one-bedroom house the property is listed with a guide price of £19,000.
Will the former English Congregational Church stay with an English owner or will the Welsh wrest it back?
The next Paul Fosh Auctions sale, when the former church and also the vestry together with almost 100 other lots, will be on offer, starts at 12 noon on Tuesday, October 7 and ends from 5pm on Thursday, October 9
For more information, visit the Paul Fosh Auctions website.
