Residents are being invited to celebrate the reopening of Grove Gardens Chapel at the Old Burial Ground in Richmond after a major restoration project.

The 150-year-old chapel has undergone extensive repair works and will officially reopen to the community on Saturday, 7 March 2026, with a day of activities from 11am to 4pm.

Julia Neden-Watts, Deputy Leader of Richmond Council and Chair of the Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports Services Committee, said: "Grove Gardens Chapel is an architectural gem.

"Following careful restoration, it's ready to welcome visitors again. It's delightful to see this beautiful chapel back in community use, to be enjoyed and celebrated for many years to come.

"It's fitting that alongside community activities, it will host our new reuse and repair hub."

The restoration was led by local charity Habitats & Heritage, which works to protect local landscapes, wildlife and historic buildings.

Paul Jennings, CEO of Habitats & Heritage, said: "With support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Historic England and Richmond Council we are excited to see this special place returning to community use.

"At Habitats & Heritage we work to inspire a love of local places, and what better way to do that than hosting cinema screenings, talks, performance, art activities, meetings, bat walks, nature conservation and so much more, in this charming chapel."

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Built between 1875 and 1877 to serve a rapidly growing local population, the chapel had fallen into serious disrepair by the mid-1990s, with a collapsed roof, rotting timbers and birds nesting inside.

Funding from the National Heritage Lottery supported major works including a new roof, replacement stained glass and repairs to mosaics and tiles.

More recently, a successful bid to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund enabled further structural stabilisation, paving the way for renewed community use.

As part of its revival, the chapel will host a new community repair and reuse hub, named The Fixery. The Council will lease the building for two days a week to run the initiative.

The reopening falls during Repair Week (2 to 8 March 2026) and will showcase the building as a symbol of restoration and reuse.

On the opening day, visitors can bring small household or electrical items for repair in exchange for a small donation, swap clothes, buy pre-loved teddy bears and craft materials, and meet neighbours over a coffee.

Habitats & Heritage will also host free activities, including a talk on the history of the chapel and a nature conservation volunteering taster session.