A church and accompanying hall have gone up for sale after being saved from the bulldozer and renovated into homes.

The United Reform Church in Ash dates back to the 1830s and planning was approved in 2019 to demolish the neighbouring assembly room.

Developers also wanted to create parking for two cars beneath the former church after knocking part of it down.

But Justine Shuttleworth bought the “beautiful buildings” and, wanting to save them from the “crazy plans”, converted them into homes.

The transformed house of prayer is now for sale with a £700,000 price tag, while the hall is up for £500,000.

Ms Shuttleworth took on the project before Covid and found it to be “a real mess”.

She explained: “I did it because I could see it was beautiful and I wanted to make something of it.

“They are interesting buildings and I thought it was nice to save them both, as one was going to be knocked down.”

“Everything inside it had been demolished so I saved what I could.”

Thanks to the state of the building and the pandemic, it was a “difficult ordeal” to get both buildings up to scratch.

Documents lodged with Dover District Council at the time of the demolition plans show there was significant pushback from Ash residents.

As well as the complete removal of the hall, the applicant wanted to potentially take out two of the stained glass windows.

With four bedrooms and three bathrooms, Foundation Estate Agents describe the converted chapel as a “striking and utterly unique residence”.

The listing continues: “The owner has an eye for detail, and she has embraced the light and energy by using a pale palette balanced with bold artwork and beautiful flooring.

“The simple décor allows the features to stand out.

“Beautifully restored stained glass arched windows with vaulted ceilings deliver a grand finish to this stunning home.”

The next-door house is described as “enchanting”, adding: “The property's quirky layout has been creatively enhanced with fine décor.

“This former church hall has ​​an abundance of stunning features within a large open space which offers a wonderfully diverse and distinctive living experience.”