Friends group to help restore Victorian chapel (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Friends group to help restore Victorian chapel

3:30pm Thursday 9th July 2009

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A DISUSED Victorian chapel could cost as much as £20,000 to restore so a friends group has been set up to take on the challenge.

The chapel at Burnham cemetery, Southminster Road, was built in 1894 as a Victorian mortuary chapel for All Saints’ Church but has not been used for many years and it has been decided it would cost too much for Maldon District Council to restore.

But keen volunteers from Burnham have decided to see what they can do about it.

Councillor Helen Elliott, at a meeting of the community services committee for Maldon District Council, said: “As a founder member of the group the ultimate idea is for the friends group to take control of the chapel and raise money to get it repaired away from Maldon District Council.

“A lot of time and expertise and research is needed to get it up to scratch and they can be trusted to run it.”

A condition report identified a number of improvements that would be required, including replacing windows, doors, re-wiring and floor covering, before it could be put back in use.

Officers for Maldon District Council also suggested uses for the chapel if it was brought up to scratch including as a funeral directors, artist studio, meeting room or for funeral services.

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