Chapel reopens in Yorkshire Dales

Last month, two organisations joined together to re-open a chapel in the Yorkshire Dales, which had been closed for six years.

Salem Chapel in Martin Top, Lancashire and the Gospel in the Dales Trust re-opened the old chapel at the Yorkshire Dales village of Hetton, which is about five miles north of Skipton. It had been closed by the Methodists some years ago.

The two organisations purchased the chapel in October 2024 and re-opened with a successful carol service in December, which saw dozens of villagers hear a gospel presentation accompanied by several, well-known Christmas hymns and mince pies.

Alan Marsden, the minister (and also pastor at Salem Chapel Chapel) said: 'Hetton Chapel was originally built in the revival of 1859, but was closed about six years ago. We hope this will be the first of several chapels reopening, both in the dales and beyond. The old wells are being slowly re-dug, cleared and re-used.'

The current service time is 3pm on a Sunday afternoon, though there will be an official launch in the spring, flanked by evangelism in the neighbouring villages. Those involved at Hetton Chapel would be glad of prayer support.