After being derelict for many years, the chapel was scheduled for demolition following a fire that gutted one side of the building. When the opportunity came up to apply for funding to restore the chapel, Southend Borough Council decided to attempt to turn what had been an amazing building into a beacon of sustainable reconstruction that would show what was possible, and lead the way toward a much more eco-friendly structure for Southend-on-Sea.

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Despite initially being rejected, Southend Borough Council were eventually successful in gaining £1.2 million worth of grant funding for the project.

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Blade Education was commissioned to document the restoration process, keep the community informed of progress, and leave a lasting record of the transformation of the chapel. 

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