Inner Hebrides, Scotland
The Chapel
Projects > The Chapel
The construction of a non-denominational chapel on a remote Scottish isle, driven by a philosophy of respectful restoration.
A story of reclaimed wood, heritage, and restoration
A reflection of history
In 2017, a masterplan began to breathe life back into a remote isle off the coast of Ullapool. Once abandoned, the island is now being carefully regenerated with an ethos of respect, authenticity, and heritage. At its heart sits a new non-denominational chapel, overlooking a graveyard that dates back to the Viking Age.
The vision was simple yet ambitious: a place of stillness and reflection, built entirely from salvaged woods. The trust leading the project turned to Woodworks by Ted Todd to realise it.
The chapel reflects the wider regeneration of the island, a space for tranquility and community, echoing the island’s renewal. In keeping with the principles of the project, every element was to be crafted from reclaimed materials, with preference for timber sourced from the island itself. This approach aligned with Woodworks’ three decades of work with antique and reclaimed woods: restoring, reimagining, and giving them new purpose.
“Our philosophy is to understand where the wood has come from, how it has been used and fixed, and to lean into the perfect imperfections of nature.”
The sign of the cross
Construction began in June 2023. By March 2024, 100 tonnes of prefabricated sections in trusses, rafters, and panelling had arrived on the island. All were crafted from reclaimed pitch pine, polished to reveal a warm, golden tone.
In just eight days, the chapel stood complete. Its larch-clad roof, flamed to accentuate the grain, soars above interiors lined in the same reclaimed pitch pine, creating a rich and unified palette.
Woodworks’ expertise found its fullest expression in the floor. Inspired by a Pugin altar piece in the island’s central meeting house, the design was handmade in the Woodworks Cheshire workshops. Antique oak was carefully restored and assembled into interlocking sections, secured with over 3,000 wooden pegs. No modern finishes were applied, only the original patina of the reclaimed wood was revealed.
The floor is timeless, as though it has always belonged to this place.
The Chapel is a testament to what can be achieved when heritage, craft, and sustainability are held in equal regard. For Woodworks, it is a project that exemplifies how reclaimed woods, expertly restored, can shape spaces of rare beauty and profound meaning.
Inner Hebrides, Scotland
