Nottinghamshire-based Gillotts Funeral Directors has bought its “forever home” in Kimberley, snapping up an historic former Methodist church at auction.
For the last decade Gillotts has been based at the old United Methodist Free Church on Main Street in Kimberley where the long-running funeral firm has been renting out the ground floor.
Now Gillotts owns the whole building after successfully bidding on the three storey property at auction.
The old church had been put up for sale following the passing of its previous owner who lived on the upper two floors.
While renting the space the firm then spent £200,000 to create a funeral home complete with a reception, family room and two chapels of rest.
Gillotts partner Anthony Topley said he was now proud to own the building in which people have been saying goodbyes to loved ones in Kimberley for generations – in its roles both as church and funeral home.
With developers having shown an interest in the property, he said he was pleased Gillotts would be retaining the building, enhancing its period feel and continuing its long-term purpose.
Anthony said: “We are very proud to own the building outright. We are keeping the purpose of the building as what it was originally used for. It’s no longer a religious building but it’s still a place where people are saying goodbye to loved ones.
“Our office has been open there for 10 years and we are very pleased that we now have the keys to this church that has a long-established history in the town. The building has such a striking presence in Kimberley and always attracts comments, so we’re delighted to have secured our future here.
“We are hoping this is going to be our forever home in Kimberley.”
Built in 1890, for many years the imposing Victorian building was a church with capacity for hundreds of congregation members.
Many of the building’s original features still remain, one of which is a large organ extending over the top two floors. There are no immediate plans for the use of the upstairs floors.
