A dream home renovation turned into a chilling discovery beneath the floorboards! When Lucy and Rhys Thomas purchased a historic church, they envisioned a picturesque new life. But what they unearthed would turn their renovation project into something far more profound and unexpected.
Lucy, 53, and Rhys, 45, were captivated by the Grade I listed St Peter’s Church, a 900-year-old former place of worship they'd often passed by. Advertised as a five-bedroom home, they mistakenly believed the conversion to a residential property had already been completed. Imagine their surprise upon arrival to find it very much still a church, requiring a complete overhaul!
Undeterred by the monumental task, the couple successfully bid £405,000 for the property in Peterstone Wentlooge, Wales, at auction. They were aware of the possibility of finding a few remains, as it was a historical practice for wealthy or influential locals to be buried within church walls. The warning suggested around five or six bodies might be present.
But here's where it gets truly astonishing: The Thomases didn't just find a handful of burials; they uncovered a staggering 83 sets of human remains when they began lifting the original floorboards. The church itself was founded way back in 1142.
In a remarkable display of respect for the deceased, Lucy, a mother of five, explained their decision: "Out of respect for the dead, we decided to leave the bodies there – and then re-laid a new floor on top of them 'along with underfloor heating'." She recounted the necessity of having an archaeologist present during the initial digging, which went down 40 centimeters.
"They said to me, 'because we were digging down 40 centimetres, we would inevitably going to find a body somewhere as in the past often influential, religious or rich people in the community would be buried within the floors of the church'. We didn’t know this, so we were a bit apprehensive – but they said we would only find about five or six bodies, when they started digging, it became apparent there was a lot more than we first envisioned."
And this is the part most people miss: The Thomases found that people were buried together, including husbands and wives, and parents with children. This discovery solidified their decision to let them remain undisturbed. "The first few were uncomfortable but we gradually warmed to the process," Lucy shared.
Their four-year renovation journey, which concluded after purchasing the property in 2021, was described as a "huge battle and accomplishment." The couple bought the church shortly after the Covid-19 pandemic, initially expecting a property ready for immediate occupancy. The reality was that only planning permission was in place for the change of use to a residential dwelling.
Lucy elaborated, "We were surprised to find that it was still a church. When we finally got to see inside it, it was apparent the work hadn’t been done – we thought we were viewing a five-bed house!" Despite the unexpected workload, their initial apprehension turned into deep affection for the building: "But by then it was too late and we had both fallen hook, line, and sinker for the building and its charms."
For the first 18 months, their progress was slow as they awaited crucial planning permission from the council. Rhys mentioned, "It was a bit of a challenging job – we just learnt as we went along. We spent lots of time googling and joining listed building groups."
They personally removed the 100-year-old floor, which was then repurposed by a stonemason into a patio outside, preserving all original engravings and stone. A local builder was hired for the main conversion, utilizing a mezzanine flitch frame (a blend of metal and wood) to help retain many of the church's original architectural elements.
Lucy explained, "We employed builders to do the works as between us we can barely change a bulb! Due to the mezzanine flitch frame, we were able to leave the church as it was – the old original church walls are untouched. We also have a bell tower and bell ringers to maintain them – but we had to repair the bells and install new ropes to ring the eight bells! It been a bit of a challenge – but we’ve got there eventually!"
While preserving the historical essence, the family integrated modern comforts, including secondary glazing, underfloor heating, a snooker table, a grand piano, a bar area, and a large hot tub.
The formerly dilapidated church has been transformed into a stunning six-bedroom, six-bathroom property, now available for bookings on Airbnb.
Lucy expressed immense pride in their achievement: "We are very proud of this and everyone has helped – our children, the architects, and the builders and of course my husband, Rhys, who has been in charge of all the finances and paperwork! We have put our hearts and souls into this – and would do it again in a heartbeat."
This story raises a fascinating question: How would you feel if your dream home project revealed such a significant historical discovery? Would you prioritize preserving the past, even if it meant living with it in such a direct way? Share your thoughts below!
