Newlyn Trinity Methodist Chapel is now just one step away from a huge cash windfall after reaching the national final of a BBC competition. Last week ambitious plans to transform the dilapidated chapel were given the thumbs up by viewers of Restoration Village who voted the project as their favourite in the South West heats.

The chapel has stood empty for eight years after structural problems and a leaking roof forced the congregation out. 

But proposals have now been drawn up to give the building a new lease of life, by transforming it into a heritage centre celebrating the history of Newlyn.

The Rev Julyan Drew, of Newlyn Trinity Methodist Church, was told last Wednesday that the project would be featured on the BBC show's national final, news he described as a "delightful surprise".

The chapel beat off competition from two other projects in the South West, and will now go head-to-head with seven other regional heat winners when the series reaches its climax on September 17. Mr Drew said this week: "We have to thank everyone who voted, we really couldn't have done it without them.

"Before we had a one-in-21 chance of winning, now it's one-in-eight, so we've improved our odds.

"There are still a lot of fine projects in the running, but if people carry on supporting us as they have done we could get on very well.

"This has potential to be a very fine project. What is so positive is that it is a fantastic building, with good community involvement and a sustainable future."

And even though the live final is still some four weeks away Mr Drew and the rest of the team involved in the project are not resting on their laurels.

He said: "We are straight back into planning the next phase, to make sure we can keep the support there for one final push."

If voting goes the way of the local project, the BBC money would see the historic chapel become a permanent reminder to the village's internationally renowned school of painters, as well as its former copper-working and silk-making industries.

However, win or lose, Mr Drew says the value of the public exposure has been immeasurable.

He explained: "From our point of view the publicity has been fantastic and the interest raised has been phenomenal. It gives us a good head of steam to take the project forwards whatever happens."

Newlyn Trinity Methodist Chapel will feature as one of eight finalists during Restoration Village's last series of programmes due to be screened on the weekend of September 15 to 17.

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