We have great news regarding the restoration project -"Unwrapped" - Thanks to your kind donations and a significant grant from the Community Asset Fund, a part of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, work is due to start in April. Find out more on this, a visit from our local MP, a Summer fundraising concert to be held in the Cut and much more.
Find out how far people came to worship in the Chapel in the eighteenth century, an update on our fundraising and of course our Carols and Readings by Candlelight is this month.
Updates on the ownership of the Chapel, progress on the fundraising and interesting articles on some of the graffiti in the Chapel and another on a Pilgrimage to the Chapel in 1939.
Trustees of The Friends were informed on the 24th of May that Historic Suffolk had withdrawn its offer to take on ownership of The Chapel from the Historic Chapels Trust. Find out what this means for the future of the Chapel and how you can help.
Catch up on recent developments including the transfer of ownership of the Chapel from the Historic Chapels Trust to Historic Suffolk, an update on fundraising and the great strides being made in the Discovery Project. A date for your diaries -Thursday 6th June 2024 at 6.30 pm, when Dr Joel Halcomb, a lecturer at UEA and Board member of the Centre for East Anglian Studies (CEAS) will talk at he Chapel on "Walpole and the Puritan Revolution".
Picture is of the recently cleared Chapel yard.
Find out about the progress of the Discovery Project, an update on the repairs and conservation work and who knows about these beautiful oil lamps?
December Newsletter
On 8 November 2023 three volunteers from the Walpole Chapel Discovery project were invited to speak to the Halesworth Tourism Group.
They explained their mission to preserve the unique 17th century non-conformist building, and engage people’s interest in its remarkable history - both local people and visitors.
Simon Tennant, proprietor of the Angel Hotel and Chair of the Tourism Group thanked the speakers. He wrote
“The enthusiasm and energy that you are clearly all bringing to your project is so impressive and we hope we can support your efforts as you work towards your target. Wouldn’t it be lovely if a wider group could appreciate what a very special asset Walpole has in its Non-conformist Chapel and add their weight to the fund raising effort. We wish you the very best of luck.”
The project, in partnership with Halesworth museum, includes archival research, oral history interviews and research into the lives of individuals baptised or buried at the Chapel.
September is Ride and Stride month - so find out more about about the ride and maybe even join, or support, one of our trustees Paul Simmons who will be again undertaking the ride this year. Also an interesting piece on fundraising in 1930!
Find out how the restoration project is going, an article on the visit by the Fellows and Scholars of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), more on the Discovery Project and why not become a Friend of the Chapel?
The new 2023 Programme is covered in this newsletter as well as exciting developments on the Unwrapped Project and details of the Big Help Out Day on 8th May.