With rumours of body snatching and the belief it was a trail-blazer in the USA, the modest-looking Frenchay Chapel has a remarkable history. But now the building, which dates from the 1600s, is suffering from the ravages of time. Gazette feature writer Kirsty Ramsden found out about the chapel's past and how it is facing up to the future.

FRENCHAY Chapel is shrouded in mystery and is something of a rarity in that it has a tower - very unusual for a non-conformist church in England. The minister at the chapel, the Rev Gerald Whitaker, (corr) explained that as Unitarianism was outlawed until 1818, chapels tended to be inconspicuous, so as not to draw attention to their existence. Frenchay Chapel, however, bucks that trend.

There has been the suggestion the tower might have been an observatory, said Mr Whitaker, but in reality the reason for its existence is still a mystery.

The tower and the chapel's other prominent features are thought to have made their mark on American history.

When non-conformists quit England for the US, Frenchay would have been en-route to the port of Bristol.

Indeed the village's Quaker families are thought to have taken pity on the travellers and given them a roof over their heads during the journey.

"This chapel was almost certainly the last one they saw before setting sail," said Mr Whitaker.

Thus, he explained, New England non-conformist churches closely resembled their final reminder of an English chapel, square in shape and situated on greens just as Frenchay Chapel overlooked the village common.

The chapel was built in 1684, pre-dating the majestic parish church, St John's, which sits across the common, by 150 years. And because the congragations of the chapel had had no money to rip out the old and replace with new most of the original features have been retained.

In addition to the tower, features gracing the chapel include a wide doorway, to allow the ladies of yesteryear through with their large skirts, and an anti-bodysnatcher stone.

Rumour has it, said Mr Whitaker, that a doctor living next to the chapel would scale the wall to retrieve freshly buried bodies.

To prevent this an anti-bodysnatcher stone, which needed eight strong men to move it, was placed on the top of fresh graves.

Steeped in history, the chapel had a complete list of ministers dating back to 1691 and the oldest stone in the graveyard carries the date 1701, said Bernard Omar, chairman of the congregation.

A congregation worshipped at the chapel until 1962 when it fell into disuse. Then a minister, Rev Peter Jenkins, moved to the area and took an interest in the building.

Mr Jenkins, who now lives in America, mustered working parties to renovate the grounds and interior and the chapel reopened in 1980.

The congregation now numbers about 30 and members travel from as far afield as Stroud, Bristol and Wales.

Now, however, this small congregation is facing repair bills for a building ravaged by time.

The chapel has received a welcome cash boost of £105,000 from English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund for roof repairs but needs to raise a further £30,000 towards the final bill.

The congregation is organising small fundraising events to boost coffers and also hoping to raise more money by renting out the building which is already the base for a mothers' group and poetry and philosophy clubs.

"It would be a shame for it to be used just once or twice a week, said Mr Omar. "We are seeking more users to keep it alive."

Keeping the building used would ensure it remained warm, added Mr Whitaker. "We want people to use it and enjoy it. To simply let it die would be a tragedy."

To book the chapel building call 01454 775454.