Newtown chapel sells for £200k

One of Newtown’s most historic buildings, the Zion Baptist Chapel, has been sold at auction for £200,000, more than doubling its guide price, and the owner has grand plans for the building.

The Grade II listed chapel, a landmark on the corner of New Church Street and New Road, will soon embark on a new chapter under the stewardship of its new owner—an internationally acclaimed artist who plans to transform it into a space for art and learning.  

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The buyer, who wishes to remain anonymous, brings a unique vision to the chapel, which has stood since 1881 in its current Neo-Baroque form.

With a background in philosophy, architectural history, and 16 years of lecturing at Birmingham University, the new owner has expressed a deep commitment to both the building and the community.  

Assuring townspeople that the chapel is in safe hands, he stressed:

“I am interested in the future of not only the building but of the town and would like to develop it as a people’s palace.

“I am beyond thrilled to be the new owner of this imposing building which I think looks like St Paul’s Cathedral without the dome. It’s Neo-Baroque architecture is quite unusual for the 1880s and quite unique.”

The plans include converting the chapel’s schoolroom into a gallery for international art exhibitions and a venue for teaching seminars, offering a vibrant new use for the historic space.  

Halls auctioneers, who handled the sale at their final property auction of the year in Shrewsbury, celebrated the outcome. “This chapel is truly special,” said James Evans, director at Halls’ Welshpool office. “It’s gratifying to see it go to someone with such thoughtful and creative plans. Turning it into an art gallery secures its future while preserving its integrity as a cherished building in Newtown.”  

Designed by Carmarthen architect George Morgan, the Zion Baptist Chapel was rebuilt in 1881 at a cost of £8,000 and could originally seat over 1,300 people. Its grandeur is evident in its classical brick and freestone façade, Corinthian columns, and ornate interior, which features an ironwork gallery, a vaulted ceiling, and marble pillars.