Ed Sheeran Wants To Build A Private Chapel On His Property In England | HuffPost

The singer apparently wants a private place for "contemplation and prayer."

By

Religion Reporter, HuffPost

Ed Sheeran announced his engagement to childhood friend Cherry Seaborn in January.

Barcroft Media via Getty Images

British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is planning to build a private “non-denominational” chapel on the grounds of his country estate in Suffolk, England.

The 27-year-old musician apparently wanted a place that he could retreat to for “contemplation and prayer,” as well as for the “celebration of key life and family milestones,” like marriages and christenings, according to a proposal submitted to the Suffolk Coastal District Council.

The application was filed weeks after Sheeran announced his engagement to childhood friend Cherry Seaborn, prompting speculation that the musician is interested in having his wedding on the grounds of his home, Wynneys Hall.

According to the planning application for the chapel, Sheeran needs a private chapel because many of his guests and colleagues from around the world have “high profiles and an associated need for discretion” that would not be met by the local church.

The building will mimic traditional Saxon round-tower churches built centuries ago in England’s Suffolk county. There are plans for a small entrance porch, a small gallery, a stained glass window, and a 48-foot tower with winding steps. It’s designed to accommodate a congregation of around 24 in just eight pews.

“The intention is that the chapel will appear as if it has been present for over a thousand years,” the application states.

Although built like a Christian chapel, the building would be “strictly non-denominational and for spiritual regeneration of both traditional and less traditional types.” The application claims that Sheeran’s guests come from many countries, faiths, and customs ― which means he wants an “ecumenical” space that guests can visit “in peace and safety from disturbance.”

All Saints Church in the village of Ramsholt is an example of a traditional round-tower church in Suffolk, England.

chillingworths via Getty Images

Sheeran has apparently hired the architecture firm Donald Insall Associates to help plan the chapel. The building would would not be available for hire by the public.

The chapel would be an additional asset on a property that already features a tree house, indoor swimming pool, gardens, and ornamental and wildlife ponds.

The Suffolk Coastal District Council will make a decision on the application in April, the BBC reports.

Sheeran had a net worth of $37 million in 2017, according to Forbes.

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Before You Go

Churches turned into secular buildings

A Church-Turned-Bookstore in Maastricht, the Netherlands(01 of56)

This is the Boekhandel Selexyz Dominicanen, a 13th century Catholic Church that is now a spectacularly grand bookstore. But before it became a haven for readers, the old cathedral building was also reportedly used as a warehouse, an archive, and even a bicycle shed.

The church was transformed by the Amsterdam-based architects Merkx+Girod and now houses a three-storey bookshelf.

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A Church-Turned-Bar in Dublin, Ireland(04 of56)

The Church is a bar, cafe, restaurant and nightclub in Dublin. Known formerly as St. Mary's Church, it was built in the early years of the 18th century.

The gorgeous Renatus Harris organ inside The Church was once played by George Frederic Handel, and Arthur Guinness, the founder of Guinness Brewery, was married in this sacred space back in 1761.

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A Church-Turned-Marketplace (And Many Other Things) in New York, New York(09 of56)

This is the old Church of the Holy Communion, located in New York's Flatiron district. The 19th century Episcopal church has lived many lives since it stopped being used as a sacred space in 1976.

The building has been used as a commune, a nightclub (whose opening-night party was hosted by Andy Warhol), an upscale urban mall called Limelight Shops, and recently a Chinese restaurant.

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A Church-Turned-Residential Home in Victoria, Australia(12 of56)

This is the Knox Church, a Gothic Revival style building that was constructed in Brighton, Victoria in the 1870s. The architects who turned the building into a family home, Williams Boag and Sonia Mangiapane, managed to keep much of its richly decorated interior, including its gorgeous stained glass windows.

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A Church-Turned-Apartment Complex in Brooklyn, New York(25 of56)

This is the former St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal Church, a 1888 Gothic Revival church located at 232 Adelphi Street in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. The building, which has been divided into 12 separate homes, still bears signs of its former use as a sacred space -- with stained glass windows, domed ceilings, and exposed brick.

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A Church-Turned-Home in Belfast, Maine(32 of56)

This Little Stone Church is located less than a mile away from Maine's Belfast Bay. It first opened in 1907 as a Dutch Reform church before being purchased by Christian Scientists in the 1960s. There are three bedrooms inside this gem, according to Zillow. The grounds around the church have been spruced up with a garden and shrubbery.

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A Church-Turned-Condominium in New York, New York(42 of56)

This West Village Romanesque style building is the former home of the Washington Square United Methodist Church. Built in the late 1850s, the church became known as the "Peace Church" during the Vietnam War because of its activism. It also had a long history of welcoming LGBT Christians in New York. The building is now an eight unit condominium called Novare.

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A Church-Turned-Apartment Complex in Brooklyn, New York(46 of56)

This Early Romanesque Revival church was built in 1857 in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn. When it first opened as the South Congregational Church, the neighborhood was home to immigrants from Scandinavia. By 1940, the church was thriving and boasted a members list with 2,400 names. The building was granted landmark status by New York's Landmarks Preservation Commission in the 1980s, meaning that its exterior cannot be altered. The interior was remodeled into a number of luxury apartments that feature cathedral ceilings and stained glass windows.

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A Synagogue-Turned-Townhouse in New York, New York(50 of56)

This former synagogue, known as the 8th Street Shul, once served the Lower East Side's Jewish community. As Jews moved away from the neighborhood, the congregation dwindled down. The building has survived through two fires, and, at one point, was occupied by a East Village resident, who protested the idea of it being used at anything but a synagogue.

The space is now a three-bedroom townhouse with three outdoor terraces and cathedral ceilings. It is reportedly available to rent on AirBnB.

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