No suspicious activity was detected when contractors working on the first phase of updating the Methodist Chapel and Schoolroom, looking out for historical finds under the floorboards, discovered an old shoe tucked away in the darkness. Thankfully there was nothing attached to it!!!

Work began on the schoolroom last Monday and the builders have made an excellent start, as the striping out is now completed. The next stage of the work will see the floor raised to the same level as the rest of the building, walls insulated and secondary double glazing added to the windows. The awkward steps up to the vestry from the schoolroom will disappear.

No Chapel member is allowed in the schoolroom area while the work is in progress, due to health and safety concerns, so the pictures above of work in progress (and of the discovery of the shoe) have kindly been taken by Liam Carr from the contractors' firm on site.

It is anticipated that the work will be completed before Christmas, so that both the schoolroom and the Chapel can host the usual festive celebrations. All activities and bookings that are currently due to take place in the schoolroom have been moved to the Chapel, where a temporary kitchen is in use.

In January, the second phase of the building work will take place, updating the Chapel with modern insulation, glazing throughout the building and installing solar panels. It will be all change again at this point, as everything that would normally take place in the Chapel, will move to the Schoolroom.

So very much business as usual for the Chapel. Members of the chapel, as well as villagers, are looking forward to seeing the renovations when they are completed and enjoy using, what will, no doubt, be very smart and cosy facilities.