Godolphin Cross Chapel

  • Client Godolphin Cross Community Association
  • Location Godolphin Cross, Cornwall
  • Year 2023

After the Godolphin Cross village Methodist Chapel was put up for sale by the church in 2015, local residents organised a fund raising campaign to purchase the building for community use. After uncovering an unlikely 18th century link between the village and the global horse racing empire, Team Godolphin, the residents secured additional funding from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. This incredible series of events marked a new beginning for the villagers, and they started moving forward with plans to develop the chapel into a thriving multi-purpose community hub.

Following an extensive conservation project including the transformation of the large hall, repair of the rear hall and improving the ancillary facilities; the community building is now a well used institution. The Old Chapel hosts everything from music and food nights, youth clubs and pilates to a regular community post office service. The space offers private hire for events, and the community centre works with the local school to provide facilities for younger groups.

The project was entirely funded by a multitude of public and private grants and donations, including those from the EAFRD (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development), Cornwall Development Company and West Cornwall Local Action Group.

In 2021 the first phase of the project had the pleasure of receiving an award from the Cornish Mining World Heritage Team at the Cornish Buildings Group awards.

Inside the main hall of Godolphin Cross Chapel in Cornwall.

Villages lose their shops, their pubs close and because of austerity you lose council services... what Godolphin Cross shows is that you can fight back and you can put the community back into villages.

Richard McKie, Godolphin Cross Community Association
Godolphin Cross Chapel
Awards
  • Cornish Buildings Group Awards 2021 Best Conservation of an Historic Building in the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site