Couple in 70s turn £175k Cotswolds church into £700k home
A couple in their 70s transformed a derelict 160-year-old church in the Cotswolds into a stylish two-bedroom holiday home. After buying it for £175,000, they spent £370,000 on the renovation, tackling damp, structural problems, conservation rules and a failing roof. The property now features a suspended glass bedroom pod, luxury bathrooms and restored Victorian details.
Retired designer Geoff Bolam and his wife Julie moved from London to the Cotswolds in search of a more relaxed lifestyle. Instead, they found themselves embarking on a major design project when they purchased the derelict 160-year-old Old Mission Church in Paxford, Gloucestershire, for £175,000 in 2018. The building had served as a children's school before becoming a church a year later and had been left unused for decades.
The couple saw potential in the neglected church and submitted a sealed-bid bid at an auction, eventually winning the bid.
However, transforming the historic building into a stylish two-bedroom holiday home proved to be a significant challenge. The church did not have permission to be used as a home, and the couple had to navigate planning battles and conservation restrictions. They also had to contend with structural issues, such as rising damp and rotten timbers in the roof. Additionally, they had to redesign the interior layout to comply with preservation regulations and create a contemporary living space.
Geoff, who had previously run a design company in London, took on many aspects of the renovation himself, including decorating and managing the project. His hands-on approach helped save around £20,000 in costs. The renovation process took approximately three years, with the first two years dedicated to design and planning and the remaining year for construction. The couple invested around £545,000 in the project, which increased the property's value to approximately £700,000 by October 2021.
The renovated church now features a dramatic nave, two bathrooms, a sleek kitchen, restored Victorian details, and a distinctive suspended mezzanine bedroom pod. The property opened for bookings in November 2021 and has already received 276 bookings and 750 guests, including 213 dogs. Guests have consistently praised the property, with five-star reviews and recognition as Best Boutique Stay in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire at the 2025 Muddy Stilettos Awards. For Geoff, the most satisfying aspect of the project is preserving a piece of local history.
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