Chapel begins new life

The chapel has enough room for 750 people

A rundown chapel in south Wales has reopened after being brought back to life as a labour of love by one man.

Pisgah Chapel in Pen-y-Graig has been refurbished over the last two years almost single-handedly by the local undertaker.

Pastor Phil Rickards, who led the service on Saturday afternoon, said about 100 people had attended, and the building had looked "wonderful".

Paul Williams, who runs a funeral directors in nearby Ystrad, bought the Grade II listed building for £21,000 out of his own pocket.

And over the last two years, he has spent a further £50,000, renovating the 135-year-old building.

Reverend Rickards said he hoped the chapel, which can 750 people, would be somewhere people could come together "in fellowship and friendship".

"I hope it will be used as the old chapels used to be as the centre of the village - the centre of the community," he said.

The 135-year-old chapel has been completely renovated

"Let's hope this will be the beginnings of a new hope and a new revival perhaps in village life, in community life, in Christian life in the valley.

"You can come through the valleys and see so many [chapels] which have been turned into housing for people and those which are just in general decay.

"It is a great shame but it is wonderful to see one that is now being used by the community."

The chapel was put up for sale after its small congregation was unable to pay the growing repairs bill.

Mr Williams will use the chapel to hold funeral services and to provide the local community with somewhere to worship.

"For the business I do, I needed a chapel - and the congregation that were using it also needed a chapel," he said.

Paul Williams and his daughter Emma wanted to give something back to the community

"So we both had what we wanted."

Mr Williams and his daughter Emma said that the local congregation had been consulted with about the renovation work on the chapel.

Mr Williams carried out most of the work himself, only getting in contractors for jobs which he was unable to do including restoring the 900 pipe organ.

"It is my way of giving something back to the community," he said.