Chapel

An explorer recently came across an abandoned chapel in the UK, and was left stunned by what he found inside. Many people were left feeling “sad” after seeing the footage

Most people recognise that the UK offers all sorts of wonderful discoveries, but occasionally explorers stumble upon the most extraordinary abandoned buildings. Recently, an urban explorer uncovered a derelict Welsh chapel, and what he discovered inside left him breathless and utterly stunned.

The man, who goes by Escapade on TikTok, recently posted footage of the property online and viewers were left heartbroken by what they witnessed inside. Whilst the chapel remains utterly beautiful, something unexpected was discovered within the building, with many people quick to admit how “sad” they found it, despite it being a spectacular location to both visit and explore.

Escapade described it as a “hidden beauty”, though he didn’t reveal its exact whereabouts. It’s not the first occasion someone has recently discovered an abandoned site that tells a haunting tale either.

In the clip, you can observe plants and flowers consuming the structure and several windows have been smashed. He confessed it was so overgrown he could “barely get in the door.”

Yet, when he ventured inside, the building was virtually untouched. The pews stayed intact, and the main windows were mesmerising as daylight continued to stream through the coloured glass.

An organ also sat in a state of decay, providing only a glimpse of what the chapel resembled in its heyday. So much heritage appears to be preserved within its walls.

Despite appearing untouched for years, the building clearly holds significant historical value. Whilst mould now covers the walls, he described the site as a “hidden gem”, noting the considerable beauty that remains within the structure.

The footage has racked up thousands of views since being posted, with numerous people leaving comments. Many described the chapel as “beautiful.”

One person said: “It’s so sad that we have turned our backs on these places.” Another added: “So beautiful. Sad it’s been left.”

A third replied: “I’d love to renovate that to a home. It’s gorgeous.” Meanwhile, a fourth commented: “What a beautiful window, but so sad to see the church in this condition.”

Someone else also chimed in with: “I find it so incredibly sad when buildings end up this way.” One more added: “It’s beautiful and needs to be saved.”

Whilst there exists a community of urban explorers who investigate derelict buildings, this practice isn’t typically recommended. Properties in advanced states of decay can pose serious safety hazards, making exploration potentially dangerous.

Additionally, permission should normally be obtained before entering any building. Even abandoned properties remain under someone’s ownership.

Consequently, entering without authorisation may constitute unlawful trespassing. This is crucial to remember.

Oct. 17 (UPI) — A nine-year, $335 million restoration of the U.S. Air Force Academy Chapel has President Donald Trump calling for a federal investigation into the matter.

The president in a social media post on Thursday called the cadet chapel in Colorado Springs, Colo., a “construction disaster” since it was built in 1962 and said the current renovation is projected to be finished in 2028.

“The earlier stories are that it leaked on day one, and that was the good part,” Trump said on Truth Social.

“Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent,” he explained. “The renovation, which essentially has been going on since the day it was built, is now projected to go on until 2028.”

He said a newly revised budget adds $90 million to the renovation cost, which now is $335 million from its prior $247 million budget.

“This mess should be investigated,” Trump added. “Very unfair to the cadets — a complete architectural catastrophe!”

The Defense Department in August awarded a contract that exceeds $88 million to the JE Dunn Construction Co. to renovate the chapel, which is projected to be finished in November 2028, The Hill reported.

Officials at the Air Force Civil Engineer Center are overseeing the renovation project and said the additional funds will cover additional costs after encountering unexpected problems.

The chapel has been closed since October 2019 as the restoration project began, but the discovery of asbestos and other issues has delayed the renovation and greatly raised its cost from an original estimate of $158 million, according to KOAA-TV.

The current construction cost estimate is nearly half the cost to renovate the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, which was completed twice as fast.

The latest nearly $90 million project allocation from the Defense Department boosted the total cost by 36% from $247 million.

The project “ensures the long-term structural integrity and watertightness of the Cadet Chapel and will resolve issues that have plagued the building since its opening 60 years ago,” the AFCEC said.

The facility leaked water from the moment it opened in 1962 and underwent numerous “Band-Aid fixes” over the years, USAFA architect Duane Boyle said during an April 2024 news conference.

The 150-foot-tall, 52,000-square-foot chapel is comprised of 17 triangular spires that give it an aircraft-like appearance.

It was one of the first modernist-style structures built in the United States and is “one of the most seminal pieces of modern architecture in the United States,” Neal Evers, Colorado University-Boulder Environmental Design Department professor, told KOAA-TV.

He said the chapel was designed and built when modernist-style architecture “was really taking off in the ’50s.”

Evers said it’s unfair to compare the project’s cost and time to other restoration projects, but he acknowledged it is a “problem” when the initial five-year timeline is extended to nearly 10.