REAL HOMES: THE ANSWER TO YOUR PRAYERS

! Chapels are for sale directly from a specific diocese or specialist estate agents.

! Before buying a chapel which you would like to convert, ask the council what kind of planning permission they will grant you. For example, some councils won't allow you to park a car outside or install certain types of windows.

! A chapel building may look like a bargain but be careful when estimating the costs of renovation. Set in remote areas, many have rudimentary electricity and plumbing and, in some cases, no water supply or toilet. Installing these may considerably bump up the costs.

! Keep costs down by preserving the chapel's original simplicity. Plain, big furniture suits its style and large proportions best.