'Grand Designs-style' converted church goes on market for £1.2m with its own graveyard

Anyone looking to buy a quirky property could become the new owner of a stunning converted church - if you have £1.2 million to spare. The former St Andrew's Church has been converted into a luxury four-bedroom family home which comes complete with its own graveyard.

The old parish church in the idyllic village of Clay Coton, Northamptonshire, was saved from being bulldozed after 35 years of disuse and several demolition threats since the 1950s. The Grade II listed building is now up for sale with almost two acres of land including the graveyard, which still has a public right of way.

As well as tombstones in the garden, there are also vaults and crypts beneath the floor of the house - but these are no longer in use. It also boasts an abundance of its original features, including vaulted and beamed ceilings, stone steps and vestibule.

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Estate agents Fine and Country said that with its arched windows of mullioned stone and leaded glass the house was a "grand design property".

The listings states: "St Andrews Church is definitely a 'grand design property'. This stunning Grade II Listed home was originally the Parish church and dates back in part to the 14th century.

"The property is located in the idyllic hamlet of Clay Coton and is set in grounds extending to approximately 1.97 acres with a triple garage and a three-bay stable with tack room."

Jonathan Lloyd-Ham, from the estate agents told the BBC after the church was converted into a house "one single chap lived here."

He added: "He collected books and loved the fact that it was just a very quiet location to live in, very peaceful, completely surrounded by open fields and greenery. I've not seen anybody here and the owner very rarely saw anybody at the property.

"I haven't seen anything else like it at all - I've been selling houses for 40 years and this is the first church conversion of this quality and this scale that I've done.

"We have had a steady flow of inquiries since it went on, in fact someone in the village is quite keen on it, because they've known it all their life."