Landmark nonconformist church in Kidderminster set to go under the hammer at next Bond Wolfe auction

A historic Grade II listed former church and its meeting hall in Kidderminster are among the stand-out lots coming up for sale at Bond Wolfe’s next auction.

With a guide price* of just £250,000+ the former church and meeting hall, in Church Street, in the town centre, is considered suitable for a wide range of alternative uses.

A Nonconformist church for nearly 250 years and the home of Kidderminster’s Unitarian congregation, the New Meeting Hall closed in 2020 in the wake of Covid and falling attendance figures.

Ian Tudor, joint managing director auctions at Bond Wolfe, said: “The property consists of a historic former church together with a detached former meeting hall and car parking for approximately 25 cars, standing on a site of about 0.58 acres.

“It has been an important landmark building within the heart of Kidderminster town centre for many years.

“The accommodation includes the attractive main church building which retains its features including an array of stained glass windows and large oak entrance doors.”

The main worship area extends to approximately 2,918 sq ft, the chancel is 257 sq ft and there is a 400 sq ft kitchen. The meeting hall, which has ancillary stores, office and WCs, extends to approximately 2,737 sq ft.

Outside there are garden areas and surfaced car parking. The property is accessed from a driveway leading directly from Church Street.

The New Meeting House dates from 1782, although a major rebuild took place in 1883 including the present Gothic frontage. The meeting hall next door dates from 1907.

The church’s origins stretch back to the English Civil War and the time of famous Puritan cleric Richard Baxter, who lived and worked in Kidderminster between 1641 and 1661. His statue stands nearby in front of the nearby St Mary’s Church and his Jacobean pulpit was a feature of the New Meeting House chapel.

The New Meeting House was founded following a split between Kidderminster’s nonconformist congregation, opening in November 1782.

Its position just off Church Street is now adjacent to the Swan Shopping Centre. Nearby there is an M&S food store, Pandora, Next, Lloyds and HSBC banks and within close proximity Church Street comprises professional offices and forms part of the historic area of the town.

Kidderminster is a large market town in Worcestershire lying approximately 17 miles south west of Birmingham and 15 miles north of Worcester.

The former church will be among 186 properties appearing in Bond Wolfe’s next auction which is due to start at 9am on Thursday 30 March.

The auction will be livestreamed via Bond Wolfe’s website with remote bidding by proxy, telephone or internet.

For more details and to register to bid visit www.bondwolfe.com/property-auctions-west-midlands/ or email [email protected], or call 0121 312 1212 or 01902 928 510.