A RESTORED Methodist Chapel is to reopen this weekend.

The Ebenezer Methodist Chapel in Rosedale was put up for sale in 2014 having previously been sold to a school in the 1980s to be used as a field centre, with the main room leased to the Methodist chapel.

The school used the building less and less and two years ago it was sold to Edward Harpin, who owns The Orange Tree Relaxation centre next door.

He said: “I am good friends with the Methodist community who are my close neighbours and I said that if I ever became the owner I would be happy to share the chapel space with the Methodist Congregation for as long as they would like to use it.”

“I have spent the last two years renovating the chapel with the support of friends, family and volunteers and have used local tradesmen for the jobs that I needed more expertise than I had himself.”

Edward will be using the building for relaxation retreats and for self-catered group accommodation and for the foreseeable future it will be host to the main Methodist celebrations throughout the year.

There will be an opening ceremony on Easter Sunday, at 2pm. From 3.30pm to 5.30pm visitors will be able to look around.