A public meeting is to be held to update people on plans to restore a historic chapel.

Nenthead Wesleyan Methodist Chapel is a forlorn, redundant building in the centre of the village.

It was an important part of life for residents in the past but the building has been derelict for 14 years and is showing signs of neglect.

However, it is soon to be restored by Nenthead Chapel Enterprise Limited – the village’s newest social enterprise – with the support of a £1.69m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The first meeting of NCEL will take place at 7pm on Thursday in Nenthead Village Hall.

A public gathering to update the community on the plans will be followed by the first shareholders’ meeting of NCEL.

A spokeswoman said: “The project’s work to revitalise part of the village’s heritage is the culmination of a lot of hard work by members of the community.

“Volunteers have worked tirelessly to raise the money to ensure the building can be brought back to its former glory and create a focal point for locals and visitors.

“Generous donations raised via crowd funding and income from share purchasing in NCEL have swelled the restoration fund.”

The focal point of the chapel will be a cafe and shop. Meeting rooms, workshop and exhibition space on the first floor balcony, with many original features, will offer a place for local crafts to be displayed.

The spokeswoman added: “Plans of the restoration will be on display along with the vision for the future.

“There will also be an opportunity to invest in a little bit of Nenthead’s heritage via shares in Nenthead Chapel Enterprise Limited.”