Historic chapel revived as ‘The Shepherd’s Hut’ in Little Sodbury

An abandoned chapel in Little Sodbury has been restored and reopened as ‘The Shepherd’s Hut’, offering traditional Book of Common Prayer (BCP) Holy Communion services and new outreach initiatives.

In an age where the majority of church services use Common Worship, The Shepherd’s Hut services use the traditional words from the BCP to rekindle some of the beauty of generations of historic worship.

The project is led by the Revd David Powe and assisted by the Revd Thomas Powe. They both took on the refurbishment of the derelict building through the Church Growth Trust. It was David’s idea to refurbish the chapel, and Thomas helped out using his previous experience in building management.

The chapel had been unused since the COVID pandemic, but it is now a changed space with heating, lighting, paintwork, and new furnishings.

Thomas said: “The Shepherd’s Hut is a stepping stone for those exploring Christian faith outside formal church settings. If we are going to get people to come to church, we need a way to bridge the gap from not going, to going.”

The refurbished building includes comfortable seating, a kitchenette, and donated furniture and decor. A painting of The Shepherd, created by a local artist, now hangs inside to symbolise the building’s new name and purpose.

Thomas said: “During restoration, we found old minutes in a cupboard that date back to the 1800s. It’s written in the minutes, ‘we hope that this chapel will be there to forward the Gospel of Christ.’

“That is why we built The Shepherd’s Hut. 
It’s extraordinary that it became a church, then it ceased to be a church, and now it’s come back into Christian ministry, rather than being converted to another use.”

The first BCP service took place earlier this month and drew around 20 people. Regular BCP monthly services are now planned for the second Friday of each month (see dates at the end of this article). The project also includes weekly prayer meetings and the creation of a prayer and reflection garden.

Thomas said: “My father was a prison chaplain for 30 years and has long worked with people who feel on the margins of church life. We both wanted to start BCP services to try and reach those who might be unfamiliar with the more modern service types. The Book of Common Prayer is the only authorised form of worship in church law, with rich, old-fashioned language that people are increasingly drawn back to.

“Our services are not about formality or knowing when to stand up or sit down — they are about helping people get back to basics, to explore the Bible and begin a journey of faith.”

The new prayer and reflection garden is currently being developed on land next to the building. Plans include benches, water features and planting to provide a quiet space for prayer and contemplation.

“We’re already seeing people asking more questions about Jesus,” Thomas said. “Through this work, we believe the Shepherd’s Hut will help many people rediscover faith and take the next step towards God.”

The dates for the upcoming BCP services at The Shepherd’s Hut are 10 October, 14 November and 12 December, all beginning at 10am. If you are interested in coming along, email Thomas as moc.l1761305935iamg@1761305935ewops1761305935amoht1761305935ver1761305935. Shepherd’s Hut is located at 3 Horton Rd, Chipping Sodbury, Little Sodbury End, Bristol BS37 6QF.