A converted Cornish church hall asks for £775,000

With their soaring proportions, churches make for inspiring conversion projects. Still, this 19th-century Cornwall property in the seaside town of Newquay raises the bar, having been turned into a public gallery and private home.

Jo Painter and Ben Wigglesworth were searching for a unique heritage building to house their art gallery, North Coast Asylum when they stumbled upon the Grade II-listed Methodist church hall at auction. The Neo-Gothic structure dates from 1895 and was in a run-down state when the couple placed the winning bid in 2017. They spend the next three years restoring the Newquay building for its new role as an art gallery, community space and family home.

Classified A1 commercial space, the 1,700 sq ft gallery occupies the ground floor and benefits from towering. Floorboards have been sanded and restored, and a staircase leads to the upper mezzanine, where there’s a terrific view over the gallery and an opportunity to see the gothic arched windows up close.

There is a wall of ornate stained glass windows that bathe the white-washed space in milky light, and the pair have installed several temporary walls within the space to hang artworks.

The family residence is on the lower ground floor, offering 1,500 sq ft of space and a private courtyard. Its kitchen revolves around a decent-sized island. It is open to the dining room and living room beyond, with white cabinetry, wooden countertops (fitting the home’s character) and engineered oak flooring. Three bedrooms are beyond – each with sash windows.

As the present owners have outgrown the apartment, the commercial and residential building is now offered for sale via Inigo for £775,000. As for the North Coast Asylum, it will relocate along with the couple to pastures new.

Newquay is located on the north coast of Cornwall and is known for its cold water surfing and dozen sandy beaches. The town is famous for its historic working harbour and is 45 minutes from St Ives. Read more about the property’s renovation over at Inigo’s blog.