A former school chapel in the Berkshire town of Wantage is to be converted into a dental surgery after receiving the go-ahead from council officials.
St Marys chapel in Newbury Street was put up for sale after the site was sold to developer Berkeley Homes for housing.
It is expected to be bought by dental firm Rodericks, who hope to re-open it as a dental practice in February.
Rodericks director Carlos Clark said the firm would invest more than £500,000 in turning the building into a state-of-the-art NHS surgery .
He said: "It is fantastic for Wantage as it will have a beautiful practice in a lovely setting, and provide an NHS dentistry, which is what Wantage needs.
"I am sure once people come see what we have done to the building, they will be very happy. I have seen another NHS dentists in a church and it is absolutely fantastic.
"But the chapel has been sitting empty and no one has been visiting it. If it is left to ruin with no one to look after it, it will fall down."
Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture and Wantage MP, commented: "I welcome an NHS dentist for the town, though I am sad at the missed opportunity to use an iconic building like the chapel for community groups."




