The property expert said: “Many churches are unfortunately struggling to adapt to modern financial realities, so we are seeing an increase in them being put up for sale.
“It is becoming very expensive to maintain churches, especially when less and less of the population are practicing Christianity and attending church services.
“The buildings tend to have great architecture and are praised by the real estate industry for their coveted locations, nestled within communities.
“Preserving the architectural beauty while modernising the interior makes for the perfect family home – a real estate dream in the current market.”
Former Church of St Saviours Aberdeen Park in Islington is on sale and accepting offers in excess of £1,850,000. A sale at this level would reflect a capital value of c.£425 per sq. ft.
The church is situated within a 5-10 minute walk from four stations, a short walk away from public space Highbury Fields and 10 minutes away from local retail and leisure amenities.
One other church on the Springfield Village redevelopment Tooting is also for sale for £1 million, with hopes to renovate its ballroom and chapel.
In its 2021 “Coming Home” report, the Church of England encouraged churches to be imaginative in the use of their property to help tackle the shortage of quality homes in many cities.
Nathan added: “The UK is facing a housing crisis and so the real estate industry is tapping into this and taking advantage of these interesting properties.
“Converting these buildings into homes is a great step forward to addressing the issue and we can see this trend happening across the country.
“It is a shame to see these churches up for sale, but they offer great potential, especially in London where we are always in need of new homes for the growing population.
“They are not easy projects and renovation works can be costly. However, they are selling rapidly and for great prices.”
The cost of converting a church into a home can vary greatly, ranging from around £50,000 to £100,000 for construction alone, and potentially a lot more depending on the complexity of the project.
Nathan specialises in buying and selling some of London’s most unique and exclusive homes, working with high-profile clients across the entertainment and business industries.
Once homeless and living in his car, he left school at 15 without GCSEs before carving out a career in real estate and becoming a self-made millionaire.