The Building

The United Reformed Church in Broad Chalke, a fine building strategically sited in the centre of Broad Chalke on the main Valley road from Salisbury had spare capacity and was in an ideal location. In 2006, due to declining congregations, the United Reformed Church (URC) had generously offered up their building for wider community uses to create a community centre. The project was funded largely by reorganisation of chapel assets, a major contribution by the URC Wessex Trust and a significant contribution by All Saints Parish Church, Broad Chalke.  The Victorian pews were removed and a mezzanine floor was added to create a highly adaptable space for a range of community activities while retaining its use for worship. The new mezzanine floor provided office space and an open area for local archives and small meetings.

By 2012, the Broad Chalke URC congregation had dwindled to the stage where it could no longer provide for the upkeep of the chapel building. It was recognised that in the absence of regular income from a commercial concern and/or a growing and prosperous congregation, a further stage of development would be needed to ensure the chapel’s long term viability. Its suitability for use as the new village shop and post office alongside its other uses quickly became obvious. Importantly, all this could be done in a way that enabled, the URC to continue to use the chapel’s worship area for church services.