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Couple transformed 1846 church bought at auction for R$ 660 thousand into mansion, preserved cemetery with over 300 tombs and put property for sale
Sean and Debs Kennedy-Tallis bought St. Paul’s Church in Denholme, England, in 2017 for about R$ 660 thousand, invested an additional R$ 3.2 million in the renovation, and have now put the old Gothic structure up for sale for R$ 11.6 million.
Purchase and ruin
The church, built in 1846, was acquired at auction when it was in critical condition. The property no longer had a roof, and the furniture that remained inside had been destroyed by the passage of time and vandalism.
Intruders frequently entered the old temple, worsening the state of the property. Videos published on YouTube by young people who accessed the site showed the level of destruction before the start of the works.
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Million-dollar renovation
After the purchase, the couple began a complete renovation inside and out.
Throughout the process, Sean and Debs stated in interviews with international media that they thought several times about giving up and questioned whether they had made the right decision.
During the renovation, the two lived in a trailer set up on the church grounds. The transformation required an investment well above the amount paid at auction and completely changed the use of the internal spaces.
New areas
In the new mansion, the old chancel was converted into a living area with a wood stove.
Another part of the church became a yoga room, organized around a large window that favors the entry of natural light.
The old altar turned into a spacious living room with a dining table for eight people, walls in vibrant colors, decor that mixes modern and classic elements, and a piece of art preserved in the original structure.
Above this area, a mezzanine with an office was installed. The space gained giant windows and natural views, enhancing the feeling of integration between the renovated old church and the surrounding landscape.
Cemetery preserved by the couple
Sean and Debs maintained the cemetery around the church-mansion, where there are over 300 tombs.
Buried there are the remains of fighters from World War I, between 1914 and 1918, and World War II, between 1939 and 1945.
According to the Imperial War Museums, the cemetery was inaugurated in 1921 and closed in 1997 due to structural problems.
As the church is protected by historical heritage, its exterior cannot be demolished or modified.
This preserves the original facade of the church even after all the renovations.
With information from CNN.
