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The
nation votes for Bethesda Chapel
Restoration
results from sixth programme revealed
Speaking
from the Tower of London, Griff Rhys Jones tonight (Friday 29 August)
revealed that the nation had chosen Bethesda Chapel, in Stoke-on-Trent,
to be the sixth building to go through to the final of the 91Èȱ¬ TWO
series Restoration, winning over 43% of the votes cast.
Last
Tuesday (26 August), in the sixth programme of the ten-part series
which featured the Midlands, Griff called on viewers to choose between
Bethesda Chapel and two other buildings – Cromford Mill in
Derbyshire and Newman Brothers Coffin Works in Birmingham.
Information
on all three buildings is available through the website - .
More
than three million viewers watched this episode.
Bethesda
Chapel is one of the largest and most handsome non-conformist chapels
out of the metropolis.
Two
brothers, known as the 'Radical Saints', built the Chapel in 1819
which regularly packed in more than 2,500 worshippers and became
the central place of worship of the New Connextion.
Dwindling
congregations forced its closure on 29 December 1985 and today its
most frequent visitors are vandals, pigeons and rats.
Tonight's result means that Bethesda Chapel will now become one
of ten buildings to be featured in the live final at the Tower of
London on Sunday 14 September.
Here
a nationwide vote will decide which building should be given a new
lease of life with money raised throughout the course of the series.
Anne
Jenkins, Heritage Lottery Fund Regional Manager for the West Midlands
said today:
"Bethesda
Chapel is a magnificent example of Methodist architecture. We are
very excited it has reached the Restoration final and hope the people
of the Midlands come out and support the Chapel now.
"The
Heritage Lottery Fund is committed to helping as many people as
possible celebrate and enjoy their heritage, so have set aside £3
million for The Restoration Fund to help restore the winner to its
former glory."
Tonight
three more buildings were featured for viewers to choose between
from the Scottish Highlands – Burra Croft on the Shetland
Islands; a TB Sanatorium in Aberdeenshire; and Kinloch Castle on
Rum.
Next Tuesday's episode of Restoration (2 September) will reveal
which of these will become the seventh building to go through to
the final.
Lines
are now open and viewers can vote by calling 0901 077 77 77.
Restoration
is produced by Endemol UK Productions for 91Èȱ¬ Scotland and currently
transmits on 91Èȱ¬ TWO on Tuesdays and Fridays at 9.00pm.
Restoration
voting lines are open for three days for each programme from 2.00am
on the day prior to transmission until midnight on the day after.
Notes
to Editors
The
nation votes for Lissan House (27.08.03)
The
nation votes for Poltimore House (22.08.03)
The
nation votes for Mavisbank (20.08.03)
Heritage
Lottery Fund pledges £3m to Restoration (19.08.03)
The
nation votes for Greyfriars Tower (16.08.03)
The
nation votes for Victoria Baths (13.08.03)
Restoration
required across the UK (08.08.03)
Restoration
- press pack (18.07.03)
Restoration
- saving Britain's heritage (19.03.03)
91Èȱ¬
TWO viewers vote to save our national heritage (09.07.02)
All the
91Èȱ¬'s digital services are now available on ,
the new free-to-view digital terrestrial television service, as well
as on satellite and cable.
Freeview
offers the 91Èȱ¬'s eight television channels, interactive services
from 91Èȱ¬i, as well as 11 national 91Èȱ¬ radio networks.
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