Swanage’s former Salvation Army church has just been put up for sale at a bargain price of £350,000 – and could become one of the most unusual homes in town.
The Victorian church building has entrances onto both High Street and Kings Road East, giving it a prime town centre location within 500 metres of the beach, and has more than 2,500 square feet of floor space.
Access to the Victorian building from High Street is via a walkway bridge
No bathroom, no bedrooms
Despite being more than 150 years old and having a rich ecclesiastical history, the former church is not on the National Heritage List for England and could probably be converted to residential use – at a cost.
Currently, the lower ground floor which is accessed through Kings Road East is mostly taken up with a huge meeting hall, though it does include a working kitchen of around 15 feet by 13 feet.
On the floor above – ground floor level on High Street – three quarters of the space is a church hall, with a separate lobby room and a smaller kitchen.
Entrance off High Street is over a stone walkway bridge and through an arched church door, while light is let in through three arched Gothic lancet windows. The building currently has no bathroom or bedrooms, although it does have three toilets.
Much of the ground floor is taken up by the former church hall
The lower ground floor has been in use as a meeting hall with two store rooms
“Hope the appearance will not alter too much”
It is being marketed by Corbens Estate Agents of Swanage, and spokesperson Nick Corben said:
“This is a rare opportunity to acquire a very unique premises in the town centre of Swanage. We feel it would be suitable for both commercial and residential use subject to the usual planning applications.
“It has been used for many years by the Salvation Army but unfortunately it is now no longer needed by them.
“We hope that when a new buyer is found, the appearance will not alter too much and it will still remain one of Swanage’s most interesting buildings.”
While there are no bathrooms, bedrooms or reception rooms, the church does have two kitchens
Other local churches came to the rescue
The building, originally a mission hall built in 1872, unexpectedly shut at the beginning of March 2024 as the property department of the Salvation Army’s national organisation took the difficult decision to sell some of its least used churches.
Its closure left both the Swanage Salvation Army organisation and the Swanage Food Bank, which had used the church premises as a headquarters, looking for new premises.
Fortunately other local churches came to the rescue with the food bank relocating to the United Reform Church, and the Salvation Army finding a new home at the Methodist Church, both further along Swanage’s High Street.
Although there is space at the back of the church, off Kings Road East, it may not be possible to use it as parking
“Forged a covenant of friendship”
The Salvation Army Church building began life in 1872 as an independent Christian mission hall by the group that was eventually to become part of the United Reformed Church. When the hall became redundant in 1887 it was first leased and then sold to the Salvation Army.
A spokesperson for Central, Southern and Channel Islands Salvation Army said:
“Although our building closed and is now being sold, the Salvation Army remains in Swanage. We have forged a covenant of friendship, an ecumenical partnership, with Swanage Methodist Church.
“Our church members are now using the Methodist church building where we can serve and welcome the community more effectively together. People can join in with Salvation Army worship in Swanage Methodist Church every Sunday morning at 10.30 am.
The people of Swanage Salvation Army now have a covenant of friendship with Swanage Methodist Church
“Church is not limited to a building”
The spokesperson added:
“We engage in joint worship, prayer and study so that we may know and value each other, and seek God’s will for us, as a congregation and for the community we serve.
“We can also be of mutual support for each other, pastorally and spiritually. The Salvation Army has been in Swanage since 1887 and we will remain here.
“Like many organisations, we have had to think about how best to use our resources, and are reminded that church is not limited to a building but remains in the bodies of its people.”
Further information
- Full details of the sale are on the Corbens Estate Agents’ website
