A community group’s hopes of transforming Epsom’s cultural life by renovating a grade II-listed chapel in the borough’s historic hospital cluster have been boosted by a National Lottery grant.
The group of 11 residents, which includes Sky Sports News presenter Julian Walters and a stage manager at The National Theatre, plan to turn Horton Chapel in Livingston Park into a non-profit arts and heritage centre.
The Horton Chapel Arts & Heritage Society (HCAHS) hope the refurbished chapel would allow a programme of performances, film screenings, exhibitions and events to take place there, alongside children’s club, a café and bar.
The Horton Chapel Arts & Heritage Society committee
The latest grant, £300,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), takes the project ‘to a whole new level’, according to the society’s chair.
Ian Reeves said: “We’re thrilled that the HLF has given us the green light, and these funds will allow us to start turning those plans into reality.
“We really believe that this is a project that can transform Epsom’s cultural life.”
From September 2016: Horton Chapel Arts and Heritage Society given green light to bid for chapel regeneration funding
From November 2016: Horton Chapel Arts & Heritage Society in Epsom receive £25,000 Architectural Heritage Fund grant for chapel refurbishment
Epsom and Ewell borough Council has owned the building since 2014, and in September 2016 pledged to release up to £1.45million for the regeneration of the Victorian chapel.
The project later received £25,000 in funding from the Architectural Heritage Fund in November, and had received a Heritage Lottery start-up grant of £10,000 in April last year.
The group continues to apply for funding grants and to seek donations for the project.
Kate Chinn, a councillor in Court ward where the chapel is based, described the latest award of the grant as “fantastic news”.
“We did a survey a while ago, and the society’s plans are really in line with that the community wants for that building,” she said.
“We’re really pleased. It’s a huge achievement on what has been a really sad and sorry part of Livingston Park for so long.”
From October 2015: Epsom Residents Association plan sale of historic Horton Chapel if right offer is made
From October 2015: Residents demand urgent campaign over future of historic Horton Chapel
From November 2015: Epsom and Ewell Arts Festival organisers to turn "eyesore" Horton Chapel into community hub?
The chapel had provided religious and pastoral care for patients at hospitals in Livingston Park for more than a century.
The council’s majority Residents’ Association group had announced in October 2015 it would plan to sell off the chapel if a community use could not be found for it.
Stuart McLeod, head of HLF South East, said: “We’re delighted that National Lottery players are able to support this fascinating project to breathe new life into this beautiful chapel.”
The group still need to present HLF with listed building surveys, more detailed business planning and plans for additional fund-raising activities, as well as secure planning permission from the council.
Mr McLeod added: “The project offers a great opportunity to combine restoration with a creative artistic vision, and we look forward to seeing the final, detailed proposal in due course.”
For more information, visit hortonchapelproject.org
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