As part of our Walpole Old Chapel Unwrapped project, we're exploring how the Chapel could become an even more welcoming and inspiring place for every one – somewhere to discover its extraordinary stories, experience music and creativity, meet people, enjoy the landscape, or simply spend time.

We'd love to know what would interest you. The survey should take around 5–7 minutes to complete.

As a thank you, you can choose to enter a prize draw to win a £100 Love2shop voucher. One winner will be drawn at random from survey respondents after the survey closes at the end of December 2026.

We’d love to hear from local people as part of Walpole Old Chapel Unwrapped – whether you know the Chapel well, have visited once, or have never been at all. Join us for a friendly, informal focus group at Halesworth Library on Friday 25 September, where we’ll chat about the kinds of events, activities and experiences you’d enjoy – and what might encourage you to visit.

Halesworth Library
Friday 25 September
11.30am–1pm or 2pm–3.30pm
Participants will receive £25 as a thank you.

Spaces are limited, so please get in touch to book a place. No knowledge of the Chapel or heritage needed – we’re interested in your ideas! Email Becky.jefcoate@yahoo.co.uk 

This months newsletter is packed with articles and information including details of the forthcoming Harvest Festival service, reflections from our Artist in Residence; Grace Adam, an update from the Discovery team and much more - as well as how you can help to shape the future of the Chapel.

 

September Newsletter

On Sunday 16th August more than 70 singers gathered at Walpole Old Chapel for a wonderful day of Free Singing, led by Brendan Taaffe and John Harrison from the USA.

The event was organised by Clare Pastorious, Director of the South Norfolk Community Choir. Clare persuaded Brendan and John to take an East Anglian detour on their way to a week-long singing festival in Scotland.  Walpole’s box pews and benches were filled with clusters of sopranos, altos, tenors or bases. Over the day, singers were taught challenging 3- and 4-part harmonies for a variety of unaccompanied songs, composed and arranged by Brendan and John.

See video

The Chapel was filled with music inspired by gospel, bluegrass, Appalachian and shape note songs, known as the ‘American Vernacular’.  It seemed fitting, not least to those choir members who had crossed the Atlantic for the singing festivals, given Walpole’s importance in the history of Puritanism in the UK, Canada and the East coast States of the USA.

See full details of the summer programme and workshops by our artist in residence (also available on the website). Updates on the Unwrapped Project, a report on the volunteers' get together as well as a chance encounter with Alan Bennett and the story of the "reed organ" in the vestry.

 

 

June Newsletter

The Chapel ownership has now passed from the Historic Chapels Trust to the FWOC. A major achievement along with the on-going refurbishment to the North and West elevation of the Chapel. Find out about the progress of the project, the new Summer programme for 2026 and the exciting news about our new Artist in residence, Grace Adam.

 

March Newsletter

We are delighted to announce that Grace Adam, a practising artist and a Senior Lecturer at Chelsea College of Art & Design, and is also co-creator and co-host of The Art Channel, will be Artist in residence from March to the end of September 2026. She has kindly given an interview to one of our Trustees , Lin le Versha, and will be conducting workshops and exhibitions at the Chapel during the year.

 

Interview with Grace Adam

 

The west and north sides of the Chapel are now fully repaired, and the Chapel will be ready for our Christmas Carols by Candlelight service on Saturday 13th December. Find out more about the progress of the Unwrapped project and the news about the National Lottery Heritage Grant that allows the capital works programme to progress. There are also articles on the Heritage Open Day in September, the beautiful new books to record marriages and baptisms and  a curious piece on our new gutters!

 

December Newsletter

There will be a free bus service to pick up and drop off those coming from Walpole village or Halesworth to attend the popular Carols and Readings event on 13 December

Details available here

See full story and press release

In this newsletter we report on the excellent progress being made by Cliveden Conservation in repairing the north and west-facing walls of the building. More on the superb evening of Words and Music at The Cut in Halesworth on 12 July, organised by Rob Gildon raised nearly £2,500 for Chapel funds. There is more on Judith Condon's ongoing research into Alma Gould Dale and an interesting article on the burial ground, the headstones and the Tuscany rose.

 

September Newsletter