When we had to close the church building at Dibley we thought long and hard about how it ought to be redeveloped.  One of the greatest fears people had was that it would end up as a carpet warehouse or suffer the fate of the ex-Primitive Methodist church down the hill which was generally termed 'the funny shop'.  We concluded that we would prefer to see the church/chapel demolished and refer to 'where our church used to be' rather than some monstrosity 'that used to be our church.'

Yesterday through the post I received some photos of the finished development 'where our church used to be.'  The development has been very tastefully done, and the pair of cottages between my old manse the the listed cottage blend remarkably well.  I was even amused to note that hte former local councillor who lived opposite and objected to the development has managed to get himself a designated parking space on the 'private drive' which the council said must be kept free of parked cars...  The joys of local politics.

So, here is a picture of the new cottages (cream doors) with the manse far left (just before the 16th century white timbered cottage).  The matching of the new bricks with the old is remarkably good, and the fake chimneys make me smile!

Photos of new build (c) Roger & Susan Wick.

The view from the rear of the manse has altered radically from open countryside and a (latterly near derelict) Victorian chapel to the 'bat house'* and new cottages...

From this

To this

(The bat house is on what was originally part of the manse garden!)

I hope that those who live in the new houses will find them to be places of happiness, love and fulfilment, consistent with the church's desire that the land serve the local community for a new generation.

* The bat house had to be built from reclaimed materials so that the bats who hung out in the church (groan) would feel at home.  Whether they returned or converted to Anglicanism up the road, who knows?!